Research on the Path and Strategy of Cross-Border E-commerce Empowering the Transformation and Upgrading of Traditional Foreign Trade

This study focuses on the theoretical and practical issues of cross-border e-commerce, empowering the transformation and upgrading of traditional foreign trade. Against the backdrop of deep integration between digital technology and globalization, cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) reconstructs the trade value chain through digital advantages, while traditional foreign trade faces structural challenges such as multi-tiered agency, fragmented orders, and lagging market response. Based on interdisciplinary analytical frameworks including transaction cost theory and market segmentation theory, the research systematically explores the four empowerment mechanisms of CBEC: cost structure optimization, market boundary expansion, data-driven innovation, and process digital transformation. It proposes a four-dimensional transformation path of digital marketing channels, flexible supply chains, agile organizational structures, and intelligent customer service, and constructs safeguard strategies from both enterprise-level technology investment & brand building and government-level infrastructure & policy support. Through case studies of SHEIN, Anker Innovations, etc., the practical effectiveness of CBEC in traditional foreign trade transformation is verified. The study points out that future research should deepen the dynamic exploration of differentiated transformation paths for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and new technology applications, providing theoretical reference and practical support for traditional foreign trade upgrading in the era of digital trade.