We document the regional characteristics in China’s global value chains. In contrast to the previous related literature, we focus on the right definition of domestic value added (DVA) in bilateral–sector exports and study the heterogeneity of the share of DVA finally absorbed abroad in exports (DVA ratio) across bilateral trade partners. We find that China’s DVA ratio within the “Asian factory” region is smaller and declines more over time than outside, showing typical regional characteristics of China’s value chains. Instead of final exports, intermediate exports play a dominant role in explaining the regional characteristics. This is a new finding. Using a structural gravity model, we find that DVA ratio in intermediates has fallen more across proximate trade partners for China.

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This paper quantifies the way in which the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) affects the restructuring of global value chains (GVCs). It incorporates an input– output structure into a general equilibrium model, highlighting important differences between intermediates and final goods. Using tariff reduction schedules for the RCEP agreement and Asian Development Bank Multi‐Region Input–Output database, it evaluates the impact of the RCEP's tariff cuts on vertical specialization and the GVC position index of members. It shows that the RCEP significantly increased vertical specialization and the weighted average number of stages for members for primary factors of production and final consumption, which led to more complex and longer production chains. This was mainly due to the trade creation in intermediates imported from member countries and those outside it. This is an important finding, distinct from traditional trade models without an input–output structure.

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This paper aims to study the impact of Sino–US (China–United States) trade frictions on global value chains and welfare changes. We introduce the general equilibrium model for multi-country and multi-sector heterogeneous enterprises and combine it with an input–output structure. The results show that the additional tariffs on China and the US reduce bilateral trade and affect the overall imports and exports of both countries to varying degrees. The results show that the additional tariffs on China and the US affect both countries’ overall imports and exports to varying degrees. The impact of the trade of manufactured goods is greater than that of the trade of intermediate goods. The welfare effect in China has dropped by 0.163%, while the corresponding effect in the US has improved by 0.016%. The main reason for the decline in China’s welfare is the deterioration of the terms of trade. Increased tariffs between China and the US can reduce bilateral trade between the two countries, particularly in intermediate goods, and can cause a reorganization of global value chains in both regions.