Exchange Rates and Intra- and Inter-Firm Trade in Japan

This study examines the effects of exchange rate changes on intra- and inter-firm trade using a rich, firm-level dataset of the Japanese manufacturing sector during the period 2009-2015. We estimate trade between overseas affiliates of Japanese manufacturing firms and their parent firms and other firms in Japan by applying the Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood method to firm level export and import data. Our results reveal that export from Japanese-affiliated overseas firms to Japan is not sensitive to exchange rate changes. This applies for both intra- and inter-firm transactions. On the other hand, exchange rate changes affect the import behavior of overseas affiliates from their parent firms and other firms in Japan. Appreciation in the value of the yen increases exports from the parent firms to their overseas affiliates, while decreasing exports from other firms in Japan to those overseas affiliates.