Abstract: The widespread adoption of industrial robots provides a new practical basis for manufacturing firms to enhance their import bargaining power. Based on the data of the listed manufacturing firms from 2007 to 2015, this study investigates the impact of the adoption of IRs on firms' import bargaining power. The results show that industrial robot adoption has significantly enhanced firms' import bargaining power, mainly through expanding firms' market power and promoting the development of domestic supply chains. The heterogeneity test reveal that the impact of industrial robot adoption on enhancing firms' import bargaining power is more pronounced in high-tech industries, processing trade enterprises, and coastal firms. The results also exhibit a certain policy orientation, indicating that enterprises supported by policies experience a more significant improvement in their bargaining power for imports after adopting industrial robots. Further analysis shows that the impact of industrial robot applications on enhancing firms' import bargaining power exists both within and across industries, though the manifestations differ: within industries, the related effect spreads from leading firms to others and extends along a decreasing capital intensity trend; across industries, the effect is more pronounced in firms with high capital intensity. Research has shown that continuous efforts should be made to promote the intelligent transformation of enterprises, strengthen the construction of domestic supply chains, and provide appropriate policy support when enterprises face import restrictions or have weak capabilities.

Key words: industrial robots, import bargaining power, domestic supply chain construction, market power, imported intermediate goods