Modeling the Impact of Green Trade Barrier Information Systems on Industrial Relocation

This study analyzes how disparities in green trade barrier information systems (GTB-IS)—covering regulatory transparency, compliance monitoring, and standard interoperability—affect industrial relocation, with global value chain (GVC) integration as a mediator. Using panel data (2005–2022), the authors develop a spatio-temporal model to assess GTB-IS asymmetry impacts. Findings show advanced GTB-IS drives polluting industries to relocate, while green sectors remain stable due to technological and data dependencies. Manufacturing shifts to regions with lower GTB-IS maturity to reduce compliance burdens, whereas R&D activities stay in high-maturity areas with robust data infrastructure and standard-setting advantages. This research contributes to the literature by integrating dynamic modeling with GVC analysis, offering nuanced insights into the evolving interplay between environmental regulation and global production networks.