Abstract：As a testing ground for aligning with international high-standard economic and trade agreements,the design of cross-border data rules in pilot free trade zones(ports)directly bears on the balance between“data sovereignty”and“openness dividends”.However,the current cross-border data rules within the institutional framework of pilot free trade zones are plagued by issues such as regional disparities in institutional design,insufficient driving forces for the development of the data factor market,and limited international influence.Through a comparative analysis of the primary models of cross-border data governance in foreign jurisdictions and empirical verification,this study argues that the governance of cross-border data flows in pilot free trade zones(ports)should be anchored in the value foundation of“freedom-security”.It further proposes enhancing the discourse power of digital trade rules through three dimensions:advancing the facilitation of cross-border data flows,refining the market-oriented rules for data factors,and promoting in-depth international cooperation and ecological co-construction.This research aims to provide theoretical paradigms and practical solutions for the cross-border data rule system with Chinese characteristics.
2026, 
