In　the　context　of　global　warming　and　dynamically　evolving　economic　circumstances,　improving　carbon　emissions　efficiency　(CEE)　has　significant　practical　importance　for　addressing　the　dual　challenges　of　economic　development　and　the　environmental　protection　in　China.　Currently,　digital　trade　(DT)　is　a　pivotal　force　driving　CEE　improvement　in　China;　however,　limited　literature　has　explored　the　interconnection　between　these　two　elements.　In　this　study,　the　application　of　the　cross-border　e-commerce　pilot　zone　(CEPZ)　policy　serves　as　a　quasi-natural　experiment　to　analyze　the　impact　of　DT　on　CEE.　The　article　implements　a　difference-in-differences　approach　with　a　panel　dataset　of　283　Chinese　cities　from　2005　to　2021.　The　results　suggest　that　DT　significantly　contributes　to　enhancing　CEE;　a　finding　remains　sound　following　several　robustness　tests　like　varying　the　sample　size,　dependent　variables,　and　sample　structure.　The　impact　mechanism　analysis　reveals　that　DT　has　the　potential　to　enhance　urban　CEE　indirectly　by　influencing　green　technology　innovation,　industry　clustering,　and　energy　mix　optimization.　Heterogeneity　tests　indicate　that　DT　may　be　more　effective　in　fostering　CEE　in　the　eastern　region,　high-level　cities,　and　nonresource-rich　cities.　Additionally,　a　noteworthy　spatial　spillover　of　DT　extends　to　cities　in　close　proximity　to　the　pilot　areas.　The　study＇s　findings　underscore　the　vital　role　of　DT　in　improving　CEE,　providing　empirical　evidence　to　substantiate　advocacy　for　sustainable　economic　development　and　the　achievement　of　carbon　peak　and　neutrality　targets.　©　2024