Impact of the Depth of Environmental Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements on the Sophistication of Exporting Green Technologies: Evidence from Countries along the “Belt and Road Initiative”
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Impact of the Depth of Environmental Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements on the Sophistication of Exporting Green Technologies: Evidence from Countries along the “Belt and Road Initiative”
XU Tongsheng1, JIANG Yulian2
1. School of International Economics and Polities, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China; 2. School of Economics and Management, Hezhou University, Hezhou 542899, China
Abstract Based on data on environmental provisions in regional trade agreements (RTAs) and trade data from countries along the “Belt and Road ” from 1995 to 2018, this paper constructs and measures three heterogeneous environmental provision depth indicators at the national level: total depth, core depth and enforceability, as well as export green technological sophistication. It then examines the impact of RTA environmental provision depth on export green technological complexity in these countries. The study shows that the total depth, core depth and enforceability of RTA environmental provisions all promote the increase of export green technological complexity, and enforceability has the greatest impact. Further research indicates that the depth of RTA environmental provisions enhances export green technological complexity by promoting green technological innovation and optimizing the business environment. This effect is more significant for green-oriented developing countries. Additionally, institutional quality strengthens the positive effect of environmental provision depth on the export green technological complexity of developing countries.
XU Tongsheng,JIANG Yulian. Impact of the Depth of Environmental Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements on the Sophistication of Exporting Green Technologies: Evidence from Countries along the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Economic Survey, 2025, 42(3): 089.
2025, Vol. 42 
