The example in the article is that export pens get twice as much QA time (two test clicks instead of one test click) which involves twice the QA labour cost as for domestic-market pens. Same components, different process.
More generally I've had products manufactured in China for sale in Australia, and they certainly had more expensive parts than products assembled on the same line for sale into China. Never in a million years would the domestic units have passed certification for sale in Australia. So you just keep slotting in more expensive, higher-spec parts until the unit's safe and saleable.