The Chinese mainland, Japan and South Korea were deeply involved, along with Germany, the report said.
The report said geological location was a crucial factor in the big role those countries played in the global value chain.
All the developing economic entities, apart from the Chinese mainland, were on the outskirts of the three centers. And they tended to establish trade with the center most close to them geologically, according to the report.
Trading cost, instead of tax, was the biggest barrier for developing economies to participate in the value chain, the report said.
Transportation expenses, insurance premium and other charges related with cross-border business were higher than any existing import tariff, it said.
This article was first published in China Daily.
