Analysis of the Agricultural Trade Network between Korea-China-Japan and ASEAN

Abstract

The following study aims to reveal Korea, China, and Japans effectiveness in the ASEAN Agricultural product trade market through comparative analysis on countries trade data before and after the FTA took effect. Design/Methodology/Approach Considering the impact of FTA based on a timeline (2000-2018), the study analyzed trade data via Social Network Analysis to deduce accurate network conditions by detecting Degree centrality and Closeness centrality. Findings The centrality of Korea, China, and Japan between ASEAN in the agricultural trade market had grown after the FTA took effect. Most ASEAN countries showed an increased degree of centrality, especially Lao PDR had vividly increased its values among other ASEAN countries. In closeness centrality, nations like Myanmar, which previously had fewer relationships, tended to show the remarkable transition in the case of Korea and China. In the case of Japan, countries like Thailand, which used to have active relationships with others, had shown an increase. Research Implications As a result of the study, Korea, China, and Japan share their major trade partners before and after the FTA. In degree centrality, all three countries had shown similar patterns, sharing ASEAN countries with a vivid increase in centrality value. Such a result suggests that the Three countries need differentiated trade strategies. In closeness centrality, Korea and China share a similar pattern, countries with newly increased centrality value had shown. Japan had a limited closeness centrality relationship that there is no noticeable difference in the pattern of the closeness centrality after the FTA.