The cross-border flow restriction indices of 10 exporting and 48 importing countries and the export data of six emerging digital service industries from 2014 to 2021 were matched using the OECD-DSTRI database. The impact of bilateral data cross-border flow restrictions on digital service exports was empirically examined, and a mechanism test and heterogeneity analysis were developed from multiple perspectives. It is shown that bilateral data cross-border flow restrictions inhibit digital service exports, and that data cross-border flow restrictions in exporting countries have a greater inhibitory effect on digital service exports than in importing countries. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that data cross-border flow restrictions between developed countries and EU countries hinder digital services exports to a lesser extent, and that the specific impact of these measures varies according to the type of digital services industry. Mechanism tests show that cross-border data flow restrictions hinder digital services exports by increasing trade cost. Further extension of the analysis finds that digital infrastructure level enhancement and RTA digital trade agreement signing can reduce the extent to which data cross-border flow restrictions impede digital services exports. Further analysis finds that increased levels of digital infrastructure and the signing of RTA digital trade agreements can reduce the extent to which restrictions on the cross-border flow of data impede the export of digital services. The conclusions provide important empirical support for reducing cross-border data flow restrictions and thus empowering the opening up of digital services trade to the outside world to promote China's services foreign trade growth.