Carbon　emissions　embodied　in　trade　account　for　23%　of　total　global　emissions.　This　phenomenon　will　exacerbate　as　global　trade　flourishes,　impeding　carbon　reduction.　To　clarify　the　evolutionary　characteristics　of　global　embodied　carbon　network,　we　constructed　a　multiregional　input–output　model　spanning　2001　to　2021,　encompassing　China　(CHN),　the　Regional　Comprehensive　Economic　Partnership　(RCEP),　the　European　Union　(EU),　and　the　United　States-Mexico-Canada　Agreement　(USMCA),　which　represent　76%　of　global　GDP.　Combining　industry　correlation　analysis　and　scenario　simulation,　we　further　explored　embodied　carbon　emissions　(ECE)　mitigation　potential　through　trade　restructuring　and　carbon　emissions　intensity　reducing　in　China.　Results　revealed　an　89%　increase　in　global　ECE　over　the　past　two　decades,　with　70%　contributed　by　intermediate　trade.　China　emerged　as　the　only　country　with　net　carbon　inflow,　but　it　experienced　a　significant　decrease　in　net　inflow　in　2021　(32%　lower　than　the　peak　in　2011).　Conversely,　the　other　three　economic　entities　exhibited　net　carbon　outflow　in　aggregate　terms.　Notably,　RCEP　(except　CHN)　experienced　a　transition　in　the　direction　of　carbon　flows　in　final　trade,　shifting　from　accounting　for　10%　of　net　global　carbon　outflows　to　11%　of　inflows.　In　addition,　dual　control　of　emission　intensity　and　trade　scale,　particularly　in　manufacturing　industries,　can　reduce　net　inflows　to　China　by　up　to　19%　and　contribute　a　3.42%　decrease　in　global　ECE.　Promoting　trade　to　final　products　and　transforming　key　industries　to　low-carbon,　high　value-added　sectors　were　vital　for　carbon　mitigation.　These　results　can　facilitate　policy-making　in　shaping　green　and　low-carbon　foreign　trade　patterns.　Graphical　abstract:　(Figure　presented.)　©　The　Japan　Section　of　the　Regional　Science　Association　International　2024.