This paper explains the meaning of the concept of international competitiveness and the theory applied to the international competitiveness of service trade. Based on the existing assessment systems, this article designs a set of indicator system for assessing the international competitiveness of service trade. According to this assessment system, we compare the international competitiveness of total trade in service of China and US as well as the trade service sectors in the two countries. The result shows that, compared with US, China’s whole trade service does not has advantage in international competitiveness;and the knowledge, technology intensive sectors have disadvantage in general. Furthermore, the paper analysis the influence factors on China’s international competitiveness in trade services. Finally, based on the framework of Michael Porter’s six influencing factors and assessment outcomes, the paper comes up with some suggestions on improving the international competitiveness of China’s service trade.
KEY WORDS international competitiveness trade in service the system of assessment