Agricultural Trade Effects of China’s Free Trade Zone Strategy: A Multidimensional Heterogeneity Perspective

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This paper explores China's Free Trade Zone (FTZ) strategy as a quasi-natural experiment, employing Propensity Score Matching-Staggered Difference-in-Differences (PSM-Staggered DID) and Synthetic Control Methods (SCM). The results indicate that FTZs with partner countries have enhanced China's agricultural trade. The study reveals multidimensional heterogeneity in effects concerning agreement terms, years, product categories, and network positions. Notably, broader and deeper Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) result in more significant impacts, with effects expanding over time and shifts in import-export patterns across various agricultural product categories. China, functioning as a hub country, experiences more pronounced agricultural trade effects. 

From a methodological point of view, the manuscript appears unconvincing and lacking. It omits references to the well-established literature on international trade and the evaluation of trade policies. The data structure is unclear – what does "agricultural products trade" refer to? Are trade observations at the product or sector level? Are the data aggregated or disaggregated? If disaggregated, how are flows equal to "zero" treated?

 Assessments of the impact of trade policies, including theoretical equations (e.g., structural gravity models), typically guide such analyses. What theoretical model guides this paper?

Trade costs, encompassing all trade frictions (tariffs and non-tariff measures), persist despite the FTA agreement. A control with a comprehensive set of fixed effects is necessary, but the complete fixed effects structure should incorporate time-varying bilateral effects.

In my opinion, substantial work is needed to improve the paper; therefore, I must recommend rejection.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Greetings! We are greatly thankful for your professional review of our article. With gratitude and careful consideration of the valuable insights from you, we have meticulously revised our manuscript. Please see our detailed response in the attachment.

Sincerely,

All authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Agricultural Trade Effects of China's Free Trade Zone Strategy: A Multidimensional Heterogeneity Perspective

After examining the paper “Agricultural Trade Effects of China's Free Trade Zone Strategy: A Multidimensional Heterogeneity Perspective” I conclude that it is a well-organized work that is relevant to the scope of the journal. I have highlighted certain issues that the authors should address. This will improve the overall quality of the manuscript.

1.     Abstract

The authors should revise the abstract based on purpose, methodology, findings, originality, and conclusion items. In my opinion, the writers should simplify the abstract and provide only the relevant information, excluding any elements that make it harder to understand.

2.     Introduction

While the research gap is clearly defined in the Introduction sector (final paragraph) “The existing literature has not thoroughly … which further expands the existing research”, the authors should also highlight facets which makes their work novel. They should also emphasize the importance of trade and agriculture in the same or different paragraph of the introductory section. The following two publications will further assist the authors in this regard:

ü  https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155806

ü  DOI: 10.2174/18743315-v16-e2206203

3.     Literature Review

The literature review section is very detailed though, improvements can be made regarding a further analysis of Figure 1 in page 4 and Figure 2 in page 5 of the paper and a further analysis of the research hypothesis in page 4 to 5. The authors could also include recent relevant works.  

4.     Methodology and Data

In terms of Methodology and Data this work is up to date with recent data and well-known applied methodologies that make the paper compatible with its intended purpose. I suggest including a paragraph in this section that briefly explains the PSM and SCM methods.

5.     Results

In terms of results the study is very thorough and explains the empirical results with great detail in each table and the text that follows it.

6.     Conclusions

In the “Conclusions” section I suggest enhancing the description of the limitations and the future research directions of the research. Also what lessons can be learned by the reader from the research results should also be highlighted.

Minor copy-editing is required

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Greetings! We are greatly thankful for your professional review of our article. With gratitude and careful consideration of the valuable insights from you, we have meticulously revised our manuscript. Please see our detailed response in the attachment.

Sincerely,

All authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The article deals with a very important issue, i.e. trade in agricultural products, which play an important role in food security. The study deals with China and the implemented China's Free Trade Zone (FTZ) strategy and its implications. The study is very interesting and adds new values to the literature on the subject. However, I have the following comments and requests for changes to the text:

1) The abstract does not explain the research method, time range and source of data used in the study, this should be completed.

2) The way the bibliography is cited in the text is inconsistent and not in line with the journal guidelines. Please correct this.

3) I think there is too little outlining of the background of agricultural trade in China. I mean the structure of agricultural exports and imports, the most important export destinations, the volume of exports, the most important agricultural products from the point of view of international trade. This has been lacking. It is shown that the implementation of China's FTZ strategy significantly contributes to the growth of agricultural trade with partner countries, but the scale and structure of this trade is not shown.

4) The discussion is quite modest compared to the rest of the paper. I realise that the article is very comprehensive, but I suggest considering expanding this part of the paper.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Greetings! We are greatly thankful for your professional review of our article. With gratitude and careful consideration of the valuable insights from you, we have meticulously revised our manuscript. Please see our detailed response in the attachment.

Sincerely,

All authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Thank you for addressing all my concerns, I am not against publishing the document.