Improving　total　factor　renewable　energy　efficiency　(TFREE)　is　crucial　for　developed　countries　to　achieve　a　sustainable　energy　transformation.　International　trade　is　an　important　source　of　technological　progress　and　may　significantly　promote　TFREE.　However,　previous　studies　have　largely　overlooked　the　impact　of　trade　on　TFREE.　To　this　end,　this　study　attempts　to　examine　the　impact　of　trade　on　TFREE　of　28　major,　developed　countries.　The　main　findings　are　as　follows:　trade　significantly　improves　TFREE;　in　terms　of　the　magnitude　of　the　effect,　export　is　greater　than　import,　and　trade　in　goods　is　greater　than　trade　in　services.　Trade　in　most　industries　promotes　TFREE,　but　trade　in　the　ores　and　metals　industry　inhibits　TFREE.　Trade　can　only　promote　TFREE　in　countries　with　a　high　human　capital　level,　high　renewable　energy　infrastructure　level,　and　high　institutional　quality　level.　The　lag　effect　of　trade　on　TFREE　shows　an　inverted　U　shape　over　time;　the　nonlinear　impact　of　trade　on　TFREE　shows　an　N　shape　as　TFREE　increases.　Biased　technological　progress　and　technological　improvement　effects　are　the　main　paths　for　trade　to　enhance　TFREE.　This　paper　can　provide　a　reference　for　developed　countries　to　formulate　appropriate　trade　policies　to　improve　TFREE.