Study On The Impact Of Digital Trade Barriers On China’s Digital Service Exports

Since the twenty-first century,with the interconnection of the global economy and the rapid development of digital technology,trade in digital services has also developed steadily.However,the unbalanced level of digital technology development among countries and incompatible related policies and regulations have led to an increase in the number and impact of digital trade barriers.As the world’s largest developing country,China has a huge import and export market,but digital service trade exports also face the impact and challenges of barriers.Based on literature research,this paper composes the current situation of digital trade barriers,conducts comparative analysis and classification of digital trade barriers measurement indicators,and analyzes the theoretical basis and mechanism of digital trade barriers.Then an empirical test is conducted based on the panel data of digital service trade level of 42 sample countries from 2014-2022.The results of the study show that the increase in the degree of protection of digital trade restriction policies in other countries has a significant negative relationship on China’s digital service exports.First,this paper verifies the proposed research hypothesis by establishing a mediating effect model and a moderating effect model to confirm the hypothesis that the increase in the number and degree of protection of digital trade barriers inhibits China’s technological innovation effect,raises the information cost of exporting countries,and thus hinders China’s digital service exports;then,we analyze whether the impact of digital trade barriers on China’s digital service exports is moderated by the ICT environment effect.The empirical results show that the increase in the intensity of data security technology use helps to weaken the inhibitory effect of digital trade barriers on China’s digital service exports;Meanwhile,the heterogeneity test using digital trade barriers sub-domain indicators concludes that there is heterogeneity in the effects of digital trade barriers belonging to different policy areas;Finally,the panel threshold model was used to study the heterogeneity of digital trade barriers on China’s digital service exports under different economic levels,and it was found that digital trade barriers have a single threshold effect on China’s digital service exports.Finally,based on theoretical and empirical results,this article proposes to promote the innovative development of digital technology and enhance the relevant level of digital technology;Increase support for the industry and strengthen international cooperation in digital trade;Feasibility policy opinions including developing data security technology standards and strengthening the supervision of the digital service industry.