The opinions, figures and estimates set forth in this publication are the responsibility of the authors, and should not necessarily be considered as reflecting the views or carrying the endorsement of the United Nations. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries. Mention of firm names and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. All material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgment is required, together with a copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint. The use of the publication for any commercial purposes, including resale, is prohibited, unless permission is first obtained from Secretary of the Publications Board, United Nations, New York. Requests for permission should state the purpose and the extent of reproduction. This publication has been issued without formal editing. v Preface and acknowledgments The expansion of international production networks (IPNs), alternatively referred to as "global value chains", raises important new analytical and policy challenges. This study demonstrates how the growing importance of international product fragmentation and intermediate goods in international trade has altered the links between exchange rates and international trade flows. This publication is not intended to provide comprehensive coverage of the topic. viii List of Tables 1. Shares of the Asia-Pacific region in global exports of customized intermediate and final products by subregion and selected economies, 2. Partners in Asia-Pacific intermediate goods trading 3. Sources of IPN-associated intermediate imports by selected industries in China, 2011 4. Fixed-effects estimations of exchange-rate effects on intermediate imports by China from selected Asian countries, 1992-2011 5. Fixed-effects estimations of exchange-rate effects on intermediate imports by China from selected Asian countries, 1992-2011: electronics 6. Fixed-effects estimations of exchange rate effects on intermediate imports by China from selected Asian countries, 1992-2011: apparel and footwear 7. Fixed-effects estimations of exchange-rate effects on intermediate imports by China from selected Asian countries, 1992-2011: automotive 8. Intensive-margin effects 9. Intensive-margin effects by country: electronics 7 The difference between intermediate and capital goods lies in the latter entering as a fixed asset in the production process. Like any primary factor (such as labour, land or natural resources), capital is used but not used up in the production process. On the contrary, an intermediate good is used, often transformed, and incorporated in the final output (Miroudot and others, 2009). 8 The traditional classification into raw materials, intermediate and machinery, ...