Based on the data of China’s digital service exports to 133 economies from 2009 to 2023, this article uses Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood estimation method to examine the impact of RTA digital trade rules on China’s digital service trade exports. The results indicate that fi rstly, RTA digital trade rules can generate trade creation eff ects and release the “extended gravity” eff ect, which has a signifi cant positive eff ect on China’s digital service trade exports. Secondly, mechanism testing shows that RTA digital trade rules can generate trade creation eff ects by reducing trade costs, and release the “extended gravity” eff ect by improving the digital trade regulatory environment, thereby promoting China’s digital service trade exports. Thirdly, heterogeneity tests indicate that the “extended gravity” eff ect is mainly infl uenced by the content of non-discriminatory clauses; For high-income economies, the RTA digital trade rules have a signifi cant positive trade creation eff ect and “extended gravity” effect on China’s digital service trade exports. For non-high-income economies, they still have a signifi cant trade creation eff ect, but the “extended gravity” eff ect is not signifi cant; The trade creation eff ect and “extended gravity” eff ect of RTA digital trade rules are more evident in three sectors: intellectual property usage fees, telecommunications, computer and information services, and other commercial services.