How the FTA’s Utilization in Contract for the International Sale of Goods of Korea’s Companies Affects Their Export Performance

Purpose - This paper aims to articulate relationship about factors influencing FTA utilization by dividing them into company’s external and internal factors and performing investigation on the relationship between FTA utilization and export performance. Design/methodology - This study verified factors influencing FTA utilization by dividing them into company’s external and internal factors and performing investigation on the relationship between FTA utilization and export performance. Empirical analysis was performed by setting internal and external factors required for FTA utilization as variables. To achieve this, research model was established based on previous study, hypothesis was deduced, and statistical program were used to test the hypothesis. This study performed empirical analysis using statistical program of SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 for the research model. Findings - Empirical analysis was performed regarding the effect of the FTA utilization on export performance and previous study defined export performance as the company’s increased economy benefits through export and increase in new transactions. Analysis was also performed for factors affecting the FTA utilization by the company and through management and response of external factors and internal factors it was confirmed that the FTA utilization by the company led to increase in the company’s export performance as a result. This study proposes a method to achieve export performance based on this. Originality/value - Companies seeking to utilize the FTA sign the Contract for the International Sale of goods and there are many conditions to meet in order to receive trade preferences during the transaction process. Existing trade order and order in the FTA have to be followed. Country of origin can be seen as key in the FTA. The Rule of Origin becomes the most important evaluation standard in applying preferential tariff in the FTA. Such regulations can be seen as external factors which cannot be controlled by the company. Internal factors are capabilities owned before that can be controlled by the company. The study sought to test the variables regarding factors centered on such capability. This study verified factors influencing FTA utilization by dividing them into company’s external and internal factors and performing investigation on the relationship between FTA utilization and export performance.