数字贸易何以引领服务贸易

Core Insights - Digital trade is a new trade form aligned with the development of the digital economy, leveraging digital technologies for the transmission, transaction, and consumption of products or services, becoming a new trend in international trade and a growth point for the economy [1][2] Digital Trade Growth - From 2021 to 2023, global digital trade volume increased from $6.02 trillion to $7.13 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 8.8%, and its share of total international trade rose from 19.6% to 22.5% [1] - In China, the export and import volume of digitally deliverable services reached $385.9 billion in 2023, accounting for 41.4% of total service trade [1] Types of Digital Trade - Digital trade can be categorized into four types: digital product trade (e.g., videos, games), digital service trade (e.g., software outsourcing, digital finance), digital technology trade (e.g., cloud computing, AI), and data trade (e.g., data collection and processing) [2][3] Impact on Service Trade - Digital trade significantly reduces transaction costs and expands the range and geographical scope of service trade, allowing for rapid global delivery of services with minimal costs [3] - Platform enterprises are becoming the main organizers and providers of service trade, enhancing global production and supply chains [3] Growth in New Service Trade - Digital trade has led to the emergence of new service trade forms, with notable growth in digital product trade, where cultural and entertainment service exports are projected to grow by 39.3% in 2024 [4] - The scale of digitally deliverable services has shown a continuous surplus since 2019, with expectations for this segment to account for over 45% of total service trade by 2029 [4] Future Outlook - The development of service trade through digital trade is expected to enhance the quality and resilience of China's foreign trade, necessitating a policy framework that supports high-quality development driven by digital trade [5][6]