The Intrinsic Logic and Future Prospects of the Impact of Digitization on International Trade

Since the 21st century, the rapid advancement of digital technologies has profoundly reshaped the global trade landscape. Technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain have broken through the spatial and informational asymmetries inherent in conventional trade frameworks by reducing transaction costs, enhancing efficiency, and expanding market reach. These innovations have catalyzed novel trade paradigms, including cross-border e-commerce and digital services trade. This paper conducts a tripartite analysis encompassing the reformation of classical trade theories by digitalization, the mechanisms through which digital technologies drive trade transformation, and the empirical paradoxes and controversies arising from this shift.The study reveals that digitization has propelled the extension of traditional trade theories, while simultaneously restructuring global value chains by elevating the export quality of manufacturing sectors and synthesizing economies of scale and scope. However, the digital revolution is accompanied by emerging challenges such as data monopolies, the digital divide, and ethical risks, which necessitate a multidisciplinary governance framework to balance efficiency with equity. Furthermore, this paper advocates for future research to synthesize technological evolution with institutional innovation, fostering synergies between digital governance norms and the international trade regime. Such integration aims to provide theoretical underpinnings and pragmatic pathways for the sustainable development of digital trade.