Do stronger intellectual property rights induce more agricultural trade? A dynamic panel data model applied to seed trade

Do stronger intellectual property rights (IPRs) induce more agricultural trade? Based on panel data for 60 countries during 1990-2000 and using a dynamic panel data model, this article assesses whether and how national differences in IPRs affect the trade flow of planting seeds imports from the United States. The empirical results show that whether or not a country adheres to IPRs agreements has no discernible impact on planting seeds that are imported from the United States, implying that the strengthening of IPRs seems not to induce more agricultural trade. This result sheds some light on the debate in the theoretical literature on the importance of IPRs and trade.