Search

International Cooperation and Technology Transfer of Hainan Free Trade Port under Trump 2.0: A Global Value Chain Perspective

Author(s)

Zhangzhong Huang, Nadja Furlan Štante*

Affiliation(s)

ZRS (Science and Research Centre) Koper Garibaldijeva 1, Sl-6000, Koper, Slovenia *Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study aims to explore the evolutionary characteristics, influencing mechanisms, and optimization paths of international cooperation and technology transfer in Hainan Free Trade Port (HNFTZ) under the context of "Trump 2.0" (characterized by intensified trade protectionism, technological decoupling tendencies, and adjusted global economic governance strategies), from the perspective of Global Value Chain (GVC). To achieve this goal, the study adopts a combination of methods including systematic literature analysis, GVC analytical framework (focusing on value chain division, governance structure, and value capture), and comparative study (contrasting the policy environment of HNFTZ with other international free trade ports under Trump 2.0). The research process first sorts out the core connotation of Trump 2.0 and its impact on the global value chain layout, then clarifies the current status of HNFTZ’s international cooperation (in fields such as cross-border investment, industrial collaboration, and service trade) and technology transfer (including transfer channels, technical content, and absorption efficiency), and further analyzes the constraints imposed by Trump 2.0 on HNFTZ’s GVC embedding (e.g., restricted access to high-value-added links) and technology transfer (e.g., blocked cross-border technical cooperation). The results show that Trump 2.0 has dual impacts on HNFTZ: on the one hand, it exacerbates the risks of HNFTZ’s dependence on traditional GVC partners and the obstruction of high-tech transfer; on the other hand, it drives HNFTZ to explore diversified international cooperation models (such as deepening cooperation with emerging market economies) and independent technology absorption and innovation capabilities. Finally, the study puts forward targeted countermeasures to enhance HNFTZ’s resilience in international cooperation and technology transfer within the GVC system.

Keywords

Hainan Free Trade Port; Trump 2.0; Global Value Chain; International Cooperation; Technology Transfer

References

[1] Gereffi, G. (2019). Global value chains and international development policy: Bringing firms, networks and policy-engaged scholarship back in. Journal of International Business Policy, 2(3), 195–210. [2] OECD. (2020). Global value chains and trade policy. Paris: OECD Publishing. [3] UNCTAD. (2021). World investment report 2021: International production beyond the pandemic. Geneva: UNCTAD. [4] Li, C., & Liu, Y. (2022). The impact of Trump's trade policies on global value chain restructuring. World Development, 156, 105689. [5] Wang, S., Li, Q., & Khaskheli, M. B. (2021). Management economic systems and governance to reduce potential risks in digital silk road investments: Legal cooperation between Hainan Free Trade Port and Ethiopia. ResearchGate. [6] Yang, J., & Chen, W. (2020). Free trade ports and global value chain participation: Evidence from Hainan. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 15(3), 589–605. [7] Huang, Y., & Zhao, X. (2024). Technology absorption capacity and institutional barriers in Hainan's technology transfer. China & World Economy, 32(2), 89–112. [8] Liu, Z., & Wu, J. (2025). The role of Hainan Free Trade Port in China's dual circulation strategy. Journal of Contemporary China, 34(149), 45–60. [9] World Bank. (2023). Hainan Free Trade Port: Pathways to sustainable development. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. [10] OECD. (2020). Risks and opportunities of reshaping global value chains. Paris: OECD Publishing.