Frontiers in Business, Economics and Management 
ISSN: 2766-824X | Vol. 18, No. 3, 2025 

 

256 

Research on the Impact of Digital Trade Development 
on The Resilience of Manufacturing Global Value Chain 

Xing Ming * 

School of International Economics and Trade, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, Anhui, China 

* Corresponding author: 1448231335@qq.com 

 

Abstract: As the core element of modern digital economy, digital trade plays an important role in the toughness of the global 
value chain of manufacturing industry and the high-quality development of manufacturing industry. This paper makes an 

empirical study on the impact of digital trade on the resilience of manufacturing global value chain. Firstly, according to the 

theoretical connotation of Digital Trade and global value chain resilience, the development level of digital trade is measured 

from four dimensions: digital innovation, digital trade capacity, infrastructure environment and trade potential; From the two 

aspects of security and stability, this paper constructs the manufacturing global value chain toughness index, calculates and  

analyzes the manufacturing global value chain toughness of various countries. Secondly, we use a variety of econometric methods 

to empirically test the impact of digital trade on the length of the global value chain and its mechanism, to investigate how digital 

trade affects the division of labor in the global value chain, and further explore the impact on the toughness of the global value 

chain. Finally, according to the research conclusion, from the perspective of digital trade, this paper puts forward policy 

suggestions to promote the resilience of the manufacturing global value chain. 

Keywords: Digital trade; Manufacturing; Global value chain resilience. 

 

1. Introduction 

In the context of global economic integration, as an 

important pillar of the national economy, the status and 

resilience of the manufacturing industry in the global value 

chain have far-reaching significance for the stability and 

development of the national economy. In recent years, with 

the rapid development of information technology, digital 

trade, as the core element of modern digital economy, has 

gradually become the key force to promote the transformation 

of the global economic pattern. It has not only changed the 

traditional trade mode and industrial organization mode, but 

also had a profound impact on the toughness of the global 

value chain of manufacturing industry. The resilience of 

manufacturing global value chain refers to the ability of 

manufacturing industry to maintain stable operation, rapid 

recovery and achieve sustainable development in the global 

value chain under the external shocks such as global 

economic fluctuations, trade frictions and emergencies. 

Digital trade provides new support and opportunities for the 

resilience of the global value chain of manufacturing industry 

through the multi-dimensional role of digital innovation, 

trade capacity improvement, infrastructure optimization and 

so on. However, the complexity and uncertainty of the current 

global trade environment are increasing. The rise of trade 

protectionism, geopolitical conflicts and other factors pose a 

serious threat to the stability of the global value chain of 

manufacturing industry. In this context, in-depth study of the 

impact mechanism of digital trade on the resilience of 

manufacturing global value chain has important practical 

significance for improving the status of China's 

manufacturing industry in the global value chain, enhancing 

its anti risk ability and promoting the high-quality 

development of manufacturing industry. 

This paper aims to systematically explore the impact of 

digital trade on the resilience of manufacturing global value 

chain and its path of action. Firstly, based on the theoretical 

connotation of Digital Trade and global value chain resilience, 

this paper constructs a measurement index system of the 

development level of digital trade from four key dimensions: 

digital innovation, digital trade capacity, infrastructure 

environment and trade potential, and comprehensively 

evaluates the development status of digital trade in various 

countries. At the same time, this paper constructs the 

manufacturing global value chain toughness index from the 

two core dimensions of security and stability, calculates and 

analyzes the manufacturing global value chain toughness of 

various countries, and reveals its differences and 

characteristics in the global scope. Secondly, this study uses a 

variety of econometric methods to empirically test the impact 

of digital trade on the length of global value chain and its 

mechanism. Through in-depth analysis of how digital trade 

affects the division of global value chain, this paper further 

explores its potential impact path on the resilience of global 

value chain, and reveals the internal relationship between 

digital trade and the resilience of manufacturing global value 

chain. 

Finally, based on the above research conclusions, this topic 

puts forward targeted policy recommendations from the 

perspective of digital trade, aiming to provide theoretical 

support and practical guidance for improving the resilience of 

China's manufacturing global value chain and promoting the 

high-quality development of manufacturing industry. 

Through this study, we hope to be able to grasp the 

opportunities and meet the challenges for China in the global 

digital economy competition, and provide useful supplement 

and reference for academic research in related fields. 



 

257 

2. Characteristic Facts of the Impact of 
Digital Trade Development on the 
Resilience of Manufacturing Global 
Value chain 

2.1. Research Status 

At present, the research on the impact of digital trade on 

the resilience of the manufacturing global value chain has 

gradually attracted attention, but overall, it is still in the 

preliminary exploration stage. Although previous studies 

have discussed the impact of digital trade on the upgrading 

and participation of global value chain (GVC), there are 

relatively few studies on the resilience of manufacturing GVC. 

Most studies focus on the impact of digital trade on the 

embedded position and division of labor in the global value 

chain, and the mechanism of digital technology on the 

toughness of the industrial chain. However, there is a lack of 

systematic analysis of the impact of digital trade on the 

resilience of the manufacturing global value chain from the 

perspective of the manufacturing industry. In addition, most 

of the existing studies focus on the promotion of the status of 

the global value chain of manufacturing industry by digital 

economy or digital service elements, but how digital trade can 

enhance the resilience of the global value chain of 

manufacturing industry through specific paths, especially the 

mechanism in dealing with the uncertainty of the global trade 

environment, still needs to be further discussed. 

2.2. Research Implications 

Under the background of profound changes in the global 

economic pattern, digital trade, as a new engine to promote 

economic development, has important theoretical and 

practical significance on the impact of manufacturing global 

value chain toughness. From a theoretical perspective, this 

topic will help fill the gap in the research on the relationship 

between digital trade and manufacturing global value chain 

resilience, and further improve the theoretical system of 

global value chain resilience. From a practical perspective, 

studying the impact of digital trade on the resilience of the 

manufacturing global value chain can provide a theoretical 

basis for relevant policy-making, help the government 

formulate targeted digital trade policies, and improve the 

resilience of the manufacturing industry in the global value 

chain. In addition, the research can also provide guidance for 

enterprises to deal with the challenges of digital trade, 

enhance the ability to resist risks, and promote the high-

quality development of manufacturing industry. Under the 

background of rising global trade protectionism and 

geopolitical tension, enhancing the resilience of the global 

value chain of manufacturing industry is of great significance 

to ensure national economic security, promote trade 

liberalization and economic globalization. 

2.3. Typical Facts 

In recent years, manufacturing enterprises have 

significantly enhanced their resilience in the global value 

chain through digital transformation. For example, by 

introducing digital technologies such as the Internet of things 

and big data, General Electric (GE) and Schneider Electric 

have achieved intelligent management and optimization of 

the supply chain, significantly improving their stability and 

security in the global value chain. Foxconn introduced 

intelligent manufacturing technology to optimize the 

production process, reduce production costs, and improve the 

anti-risk ability of the supply chain. The successful practice 

of these enterprises shows that digital trade not only changes 

the production mode of manufacturing industry, but also 

enhances the toughness of the global value chain of 

manufacturing industry by optimizing the allocation of 

resources and improving the efficiency of information sharing. 

To sum up, the impact of digital trade on the resilience of the 

manufacturing global value chain is a complex and 

multidimensional issue. Through combing the existing 

research and analyzing the typical facts, this topic will 

systematically explore the specific impact mechanism of 

digital trade on the resilience of the global value chain of 

manufacturing industry, and put forward corresponding 

policy suggestions, in order to provide a useful reference for 

the research and practice in related fields. 

3. Theoretical Framework of the 
Impact of Digital Trade 
Development on the Resilience of 
Manufacturing Global Value Chain 

3.1. The Connotation of Digital Trade and 
Global Value Chain Resilience 

Digital trade is not only the electronic transaction of 

traditional goods and services, but also a technology driven 

innovation mode. It includes cross-border transactions 

through digital platforms, the provision of digital services, 

and the in-depth transformation of traditional trade patterns 

by digital technology. The core elements of Digital Trade 

include digital innovation, digital infrastructure, data flow 

and changes in trade rules. These factors work together to 

promote the upgrading of trade mode and the reform of 

industrial organization. 

Global value chain resilience refers to the ability of 

manufacturing industry to maintain stable operation, rapid 

recovery and achieve sustainable development in the global 

value chain under the external shocks such as global 

economic fluctuations, trade frictions and natural disasters. It 

can be measured from the two dimensions of security and 

stability, including the anti-risk ability of the supply chain, the 

flexibility of the production process, and the adaptability of 

enterprises in the global value chain. 

3.2. The Impact Mechanism of Digital Trade 
on The Resilience of Manufacturing 

Global Value Chain 

In order to fully reveal how digital trade affects the 

resilience of the manufacturing global value chain, this study 

constructs a theoretical framework from four dimensions: 

digital innovation, digital trade capacity, infrastructure 

environment and trade potential. 

Digital innovation is one of the cores and driving forces of 

digital trade. By introducing big data, artificial intelligence, 

Internet of things and other technologies, manufacturing 

enterprises can realize the intellectualization of production 

process, the visualization of supply chain and the 

personalization of products and services. These innovations 

not only improve production efficiency, but also enhance the 

adaptability and anti-risk ability of enterprises in the global 

value chain. For example, enterprises can optimize supply 

chain management through real-time data analysis to reduce 

the impact of external shocks. 



 

258 

Digital trade capability includes the technology application 

capability of enterprises or countries in digital trade, the 

operation capability of digital platforms and the ability to 

provide digital services. Strong digital trading capabilities can 

help enterprises better participate in the division of labor in 

the global value chain and enhance their position in the global 

value chain. At the same time, the improvement of digital 

trade capability also helps enterprises to establish a broader 

cooperation network in the global value chain and enhance 

their resilience. 

Digital infrastructure is the basis for the development of 

digital trade, including broadband networks, data centers, 

cloud computing platforms, etc. A good infrastructure 

environment can reduce the transaction cost of Digital Trade 

and improve the efficiency of data transmission, to enhance 

the resilience of the manufacturing industry in the global 

value chain. In addition, the improvement of infrastructure 

can also promote the wide application of digital technology 

and the digital transformation of manufacturing industry. 

Trade potential reflects the potential impact of digital trade 

on the resilience of the manufacturing global value chain. 

Digital trade provides more market opportunities for 

manufacturing enterprises by reducing trade barriers, 

expanding market space and promoting technology diffusion. 

At the same time, the release of trade potential can also 

enhance the competitiveness of enterprises in the global value 

chain and enhance their resilience. 

4. Conclusion and Suggestions 

4.1. Conclusion 

As an important force to promote the resilience of the 

global value chain of manufacturing industry, the 

development of digital trade needs not only the support of 

technological innovation and infrastructure, but also policy 

guidance and promotion of international cooperation. The 

implementation of the above specific analysis and policy 

recommendations can effectively enhance the 

competitiveness of China's digital trade, enhance the 

resilience of the manufacturing industry in the global value 

chain, and contribute to the high-quality development of 

China's economy and the process of economic globalization. 

4.2. Suggestions 

4.2.1. Strengthen the construction of digital 
infrastructure 

Digital infrastructure is the cornerstone of the development 

of Digital Trade and the key support to enhance the resilience 

of the global value chain of manufacturing industry. The 

government should continue to increase investment in digital 

infrastructure, and focus on promoting the construction of 5g 

network, gigabit optical network, data center and other key 

facilities. The high-speed and low latency characteristics of 

5g network can provide real-time data transmission support 

for intelligent production in the manufacturing industry, while 

gigabit optical network can ensure the efficiency of large-

scale data interaction between enterprises, and the 

construction of data center provides a physical basis for the 

storage and processing of massive data. The improvement of 

these infrastructures will provide solid technical support for 

the development of digital trade, reduce the operating costs of 

Digital Trade and improve transaction efficiency. Moreover, 

promoting the deep integration of digital technology and 

manufacturing is the core path to enhance the toughness of 

the manufacturing global value chain. The government should 

encourage manufacturing enterprises to widely apply cutting-

edge technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence and 

the Internet of things through policy guidance and financial 

support. Through the wide application of these technologies, 

manufacturing enterprises can not only improve their 

production efficiency, but also maintain the stability and 

toughness of the supply chain in the complex global trade 

environment, to occupy a more favorable position in the 

global value chain. 

4.2.2. Enhance the ability of digital trade 
Improving the ability of digital trade is an important way 

to enhance the toughness of the global value chain of 

manufacturing industry, which needs to start from two aspects: 

cultivating the main body of Digital Trade and strengthening 

talent training. First, the government should actively cultivate 

the main body of Digital Trade and support digital platform 

enterprises to improve their internationalization level. The 

government needs to encourage digital platform enterprises to 

expand overseas markets through technological innovation 

and mode innovation through policy guidance and financial 

support. At the same time, we will accelerate the cultivation 

of a few leading digital trade enterprises with strong 

innovation ability and international competitiveness, support 

small and medium-sized enterprises to take the development 

path of "specialization and innovation", and build a good 

ecosystem for the coordinated development of large and 

medium-sized enterprises. Secondly, strengthening the 

training of digital trade talents is the key to enhance the ability 

of digital trade. We should cultivate interdisciplinary talents 

who understand both digital technology and international 

trade through universities, vocational colleges and enterprise 

training. Colleges and universities can set up digital trade 

related majors to cultivate innovative and applied talents with 

digital technology and international trade knowledge. 

Vocational colleges and enterprises can improve the practical 

ability of talents through training, internship and innovation 

and entrepreneurship projects. In addition, the government 

needs to improve the talent policy, attract overseas high-level 

talents to return home and start businesses, and provide 

intellectual support for the development of digital trade. 

4.2.3. Improve the Digital Trade Governance System 
Improving the digital trade governance system is the key 

link to promote the high-quality development of Digital Trade 

and enhance the toughness of the global value chain of 

manufacturing industry. The government needs to accelerate 

the improvement of the legal and regulatory system related to 

digital trade, clarify the ownership, use and transmission 

rights of data, and strengthen the protection of data privacy. 

At present, China's digital trade still has institutional 

weaknesses in data cross-border flow and intellectual 

property protection. To this end, we should improve the data 

exit security management system, standardize the cross-

border flow mechanism of data, accelerate the promotion of 

hierarchical and classified management of data, and clarify 

the legal boundaries of data use. Promoting institutional 

openness is an important starting point for improving the 

digital trade governance system. Relevant departments should 

relax market access in the digital field, encourage foreign 

investors to expand investment in the digital field, improve 

the management mode of national treatment plus negative list 

before access, and promote the orderly opening of 

telecommunications, Internet, culture and other fields. At the 

same time, it is necessary to accelerate the construction of an 



 

259 

efficient and safe cross-border data flow mechanism to 

promote the orderly cross-border flow of data. In addition, we 

should actively participate in the formulation of international 

rules for digital trade, promote the accession to the digital 

economy partnership agreement (depa) and the 

comprehensive and progressive trans Pacific Partnership 

Agreement (cptpp), and enhance China's voice in the 

formulation of international digital trade rules. 

4.2.4. Enhance the toughness of global value chain of 
manufacturing industry 

In the context of global industrial chain reconstruction and 

digital transformation, improving the resilience of the 

manufacturing supply chain is the key to enhancing industrial 

competitiveness and coping with risks. The government needs 

to encourage manufacturing enterprises to optimize the 

supply chain layout through digital means, reduce the 

dependence on a single supplier, and improve the anti risk 

ability of the supply chain. Enterprises can establish a 

diversified supplier system, optimize the geographical 

distribution and types of suppliers, and reduce the risk caused 

by the interruption of a single supplier. At the same time, 

digital technology is used to build a supply chain risk early 

warning system to strengthen the identification ability of 

upstream supply risk and downstream market risk. In addition, 

strengthening industrial collaboration is the core path to 

enhance the toughness of the manufacturing supply chain. On 

the one hand, relevant departments need to establish a 

collaborative innovation platform to promote technical 

exchanges and cooperation between upstream and 

downstream enterprises in the industrial chain and realize the 

optimal allocation of innovation resources. On the other hand, 

the government should support large enterprises to play the 

"chain master" function, drive small and medium-sized 

enterprises to participate in division of labor and cooperation, 

and improve the overall synergy ability of the industrial chain. 

4.2.5. Expand international cooperation and market 
space 

In the context of the vigorous development of global digital 

trade, expanding international cooperation and market space 

is of great significance to enhance the competitiveness of 

China's Digital Trade and the resilience of the global value 

chain of manufacturing industry. On the one hand, China 

should deepen multilateral and regional cooperation and 

actively participate in and promote the negotiation of 

multilateral and regional digital trade agreements. Its modular 

structure design provides China with the opportunity to 

flexibly participate in international digital cooperation. On the 

other hand, China should actively promote the "belt and road" 

digital trade cooperation, strengthen cooperation with 

countries along the belt and road in digital infrastructure 

construction, and expand the export of digital products and 

services. Through the construction of the "digital silk road", 

China can jointly explore the governance rules of cross-

border data flow with countries along the line on the basis of 

ensuring the interconnection of network infrastructure, and 

promote the implementation of digital economic cooperation 

projects. This will not only help improve China's voice in the 

formulation of international digital trade rules, but also create 

a broader overseas market space for manufacturing 

enterprises and enhance their resilience in the global value 

chain. 

Acknowledgments 

This work was supported by the Innovation and 

Entrepreneurship Training Program of Anhui University of 

Finance and Economics "Research on the Impact of Digital 

Trade Development on the Resilience of Manufacturing 

Global Value Chains" (Grant No. 202410378250). 

References 

[1] Chen Xiaohong, Li Yangyang, Song Lijie, Wang Yangjie. 
Theoretical system and research prospect of digital economy 
[j]. management world, 2022, (2):208-224+13-16. 

[2] Fan Xin. Digital economy development, international trade 
efficiency and trade uncertainty [j]. finance and trade economy, 
2020, (8):145-160. 

[3] Jia Huaiqin, Gao Xiaoyu, Xu Xiaojuan, Fang Yuanxin. The 
conceptual framework, index system and measurement method 
of Digital Trade Measurement [j]. statistical research, 2021, 38 
(12): 30-41. 

[4] Li Tianjian, Zhao Xuejun. Exploration on ensuring the safety 
of industrial chain supply chain in New China [j]. management 
world, 2022, (9):31-41. 

[5] Liu Huizheng, Zhu Guang. The impact of global value chain 
embeddedness on the export technological complexity of 
China's equipment manufacturing industry -- a study based on 
the heterogeneity of imported intermediate goods [j]. 
international trade issues, 2019, (8): 80~94. 

[6] Ma Shuzhong, Fang Chao, Liang Yinfeng. Digital Trade and 
its era value and research prospects [j]. international trade 
issues, 2018 (10): 16-30. 

[7] Xu Xianchun, Zhang Meihui. Research on the scale 
measurement of China's Digital Economy -- Based on the 
perspective of international comparison [j]. China's industrial 
economy, 2020, (5):23-41. 

[8] Zhang Qing, Yu Jinping. Digitalization of manufacturing 
investment and the rise of high-end in the global value chain -- 
a re test based on the difference of investment sources [j]. 
financial research, 2021, (9):93-107. 

[9] Andrea C, Antonello Z. The virtues and limits of specialization 
in global value chains: analysis and policy implications [J]. 
Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, 2023, 50(1): 73-
90. 

[10] Buckley P J, Craig T D, Mudambi R. Time to learn?  
Assignment duration in global value chain organization [J]. 
Journal of Business Research, 2019, 103: 508-518.  

[11] Luis W A. Distributive Profiles Associated with Domestic 
versus International Specialization in Global Value Chains [J]. 
International Journal of Political Economy, 2023, 52(2): 117-
152. 

[12] Melitz M J., 2003, The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry 
Reallocation and Aggregate Industrial Productivity [J] 
Econometrica, 71(6), 1695-1725.