Brokers vs. Retailers: Evidence from the French Imports Industry of Fresh Produce.

Abstract

There is little discussion in the literature about trade intermediaries because data is rare. Using very original data, our article sheds light on the behavior of trade intermediaries when importing fresh fruit and vegetables in France. To do so, we distinguish among direct and indirect imports respectively operated through brokers or retailers. We then investigate the impact of country level data on the share of indirect/direct flows of imports by country of origin at the 8-digit level that enter the french market. We show that brokers are more likely to operate in context when fixed and variable costs to trade are high whereas retailers are sensitive to tariffs and product sensitivity.Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade, Q17,