Descriptive statistics of variables: Export.

The construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP) represents one of the most advanced regional development models explored by China. This study clarifies the concept of the free trade port and analyzes it from a trade perspective. Our empirical results show that the construction of the free trade port has significantly increased trade volumes, enhanced the diversification of products, and reduced the volatility of exports. A marked short-term surge in export volumes was observed immediately after the policy’s implementation. Moreover, the effects of the free trade port’s construction on trade are heterogeneous when viewed through the lens of product categorization.

海南自由贸易港（Hainan Free Trade Port, HFTP）建设是中国探索的最具先进性的区域发展模式之一。本研究厘清了自由贸易港的核心概念，并从贸易视角开展分析。实证结果表明，自由贸易港建设显著提升了贸易总量，优化了产品多元化水平，并降低了出口波动幅度。政策落地实施后即刻出现了出口规模的显著短期激增。此外，从产品分类维度来看，自由贸易港建设对贸易的影响存在显著异质性。