Imports and sustainable manufacturing development: evidence from Guangdong, China

Understanding the role of international trade in sustainable manufacturing development is a critical area of industrial research. This study investigates the impact of imports on manufacturing development within a sustainable framework encompassing economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Using city-level panel data from Guangdong Province, China, we find that imports have a positive impact on sustainable manufacturing development. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that this positive effect is more pronounced for labour-intensive and technology-intensive imports, midstream imports along the supply chain, and in cities with greater sectoral complexity within the manufacturing sector. Further analysis indicates that increased imports enhance key aspects of sustainable manufacturing development, including innovation capability, structural optimization, inclusive development, and public support, while negatively affecting green production.