<p>The global trade system significantly influences resource and energy use, as well as industrial structures in member countries through carbon emissions and its guiding and driving roles. However, these interactions remain insufficiently understood. In response, we developed an international trade symbiosis network (ITSN) model to analyze the evolution of China’s industrial structure and carbon emissions from 2000 to 2020, alongside the driving and steering mechanisms involved. Our findings show that China’s construction sector has consistently relied heavily on both trading partners and domestic sectors. Mutualistic relationships with trading partners are most prominent in the mining, quarrying, and electricity, gas, water sectors. Concurrently, mining and quarrying sector in China served as the primary collaborator in mutualistic relationships with domestic sectors. The driving and pull weights of the manufacturing industry in China have steadily grown, fostering the development of the tertiary sector, which benefits from strong cross-sector synergies. The main carbon flow pathways between China and its trade partners have fluctuated over time, influencing adjustments to the industrial structure. Overall, China demonstrates relatively low robustness. These findings can guide China’s decision-making in developing a green trade and industrial structure.</p>