The moderating factors of cross-border e-commerce development dimensions and the international trade value: Pre-regional comprehensive economic partnership era

Abstract

This study, which aimed to determine the moderating factors of cross-border e-commerce development dimensions and the international trade value in the pre-regional comprehensive economic partnership era, utilized the descriptive-correlational research design. Secondary data are employed from the following databases: the UN COMTRADE, ITU DataHub, the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, UNCATD, Doing Business Reports of World Bank and World Bank WDI database. The median, mean, standard deviation, variability, and trend line were employed for descriptive statistics. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and Spearman’s Rho were used for inferential statistics; all set at .05 level of significance. Findings showed that Internet penetration has weak correlations with both imports and exports, with no statistical significance. Trade facilitation shows moderate positive correlations with both imports and exports, with no statistical significance. Line shipping connectivity has strong positive correlations with both imports and exports, indicating high statistical significance. Logistics performance shows moderate positive correlations with both imports and exports, with statistical significance. GDP has a strong positive correlation with both imports and exports, indicating strong statistical significance, Population shows a moderate positive correlation with imports, but weakly correlated with exports while Tariff Weighted Average has weak correlations with both imports and exports, with no statistical significance. Trade Dependency shows no significant correlation with either imports or exports. When moderated by time to import/export documentary compliance, Internet Penetration, Trade Facilitation and Logistics Performance become negatively correlated with both imports and exports, while Line Shipping Connectivity maintains its negligible influence, with non-significant correlations. The moderation by time to import/export documentary compliance significantly alters the impact of Internet Penetration, Trade Facilitation, and Logistics Performance, reducing their effectiveness in facilitating trade.