IRCA indices by commodity group in CPTTP countries.

IRCA indices by commodity group in CPTTP countries.</p

Change in solar PV product exports from CPTPP countries, 2001–2017 (US$ million).

Change in solar PV product exports from CPTPP countries, 2001–2017 (US$ million).</p

Results of the CMS model decomposition of Malaysia’s solar PV export growth (US$ million).

Results of the CMS model decomposition of Malaysia’s solar PV export growth (US$ million).</p

Changes in the structure of solar PV product exports from CPTPP countries (Data obtained from UN Comtrade).

Changes in the structure of solar PV product exports from CPTPP countries (Data obtained from UN Comtrade).</p

Changes in the export structure of solar PV products from CPTPP countries (Data obtained from UN Comtrade).

Changes in the export structure of solar PV products from CPTPP countries (Data obtained from UN Comtrade).</p

Results of the CMS model decomposition of Mexico’s solar PV export growth(US$ million).

Results of the CMS model decomposition of Mexico’s solar PV export growth(US$ million).</p

Genetic algorithm convergence process.

Solar PV enables the conversion of solar energy into electricity and has become a clean energy technology for economic development. The advantages and disadvantages of solar photovoltaic vary among CPTPP member nations; nevertheless, since the CPTPP’s implementation, fewer researchers have evaluated the member countries’ solar photovoltaic goods’ level of international competitiveness. In order to correct the flaw that the RCA index can only be studied from trade volume, this study adopts the IRCA index method and the revised CMS model, which integrates a number of variables to analyze the competitiveness of solar photovoltaic in each country. The study’s findings indicate that: (1) the structural effect has a significant impact on export growth, particularly during the epidemic period, when Australia’s contribution rate reached 106.58%; (2) the competitiveness effect has a lesser impact on export growth, and the epidemic led to a decline in competitiveness, with Japan’s contribution rate reaching -262.85%; (3) the second-order effect has a declining trend in its contribution rate of export growth; (4) the export competitiveness of solar PV products differs between CPTPP countries, with power supply products having the most export competitiveness and solar cells having a steady comparative advantage in a weaker state. Apart than Japan, the remaining nations’ comparative advantages for PV products are less than 1. Based on the above research findings, this paper puts forward the corresponding policy recommendations.</div

S1 Appendix -

Solar PV enables the conversion of solar energy into electricity and has become a clean energy technology for economic development. The advantages and disadvantages of solar photovoltaic vary among CPTPP member nations; nevertheless, since the CPTPP’s implementation, fewer researchers have evaluated the member countries’ solar photovoltaic goods’ level of international competitiveness. In order to correct the flaw that the RCA index can only be studied from trade volume, this study adopts the IRCA index method and the revised CMS model, which integrates a number of variables to analyze the competitiveness of solar photovoltaic in each country. The study’s findings indicate that: (1) the structural effect has a significant impact on export growth, particularly during the epidemic period, when Australia’s contribution rate reached 106.58%; (2) the competitiveness effect has a lesser impact on export growth, and the epidemic led to a decline in competitiveness, with Japan’s contribution rate reaching -262.85%; (3) the second-order effect has a declining trend in its contribution rate of export growth; (4) the export competitiveness of solar PV products differs between CPTPP countries, with power supply products having the most export competitiveness and solar cells having a steady comparative advantage in a weaker state. Apart than Japan, the remaining nations’ comparative advantages for PV products are less than 1. Based on the above research findings, this paper puts forward the corresponding policy recommendations.</div

Results of the CMS model decomposition of Chile’s solar PV export growth(US$ million).

Results of the CMS model decomposition of Chile’s solar PV export growth(US$ million).</p

Results of CMS model decomposition of Singapore’s solar PV export growth(US$ million).

Results of CMS model decomposition of Singapore’s solar PV export growth(US$ million).</p