China-USA Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $589.04B total volume โ€ขChina surplus: $294.45B

China โ†’ USA

$441.74B

Exports (2023)

USA โ†’ China

$147.30B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$294.45B

Surplus for China

Total Trade

$589.04B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between China and USA. Green line shows exports from China, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the China-USA commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

China โ†’ USA Exports

$441.74B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Highly Diversified
Market Share:
10.1% top product
1Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$44.42B
10.1% of exports
2Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display
$35.51B
8.0% of exports
3Electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)
$13.31B
3.0% of exports
4Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds
$12.27B
2.8% of exports
5Games: video game consoles and machines, other than those of subheading 9504.30
$8.91B
2.0% of exports
6Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus
$7.94B
1.8% of exports
7Machinery: parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases and the like) of the machines of heading no. 8471
$5.82B
1.3% of exports
8Plastics: other articles n.e.c. in chapter 39
$4.48B
1.0% of exports
9Monitors: other than cathode-ray tube: capable of directly connecting to and designed for use with an automatic data processing machine of heading 84.71
$4.44B
1.0% of exports
10Plastics: tableware and kitchenware
$3.45B
0.8% of exports

๐ŸŽฏ Strategic Export Focus

China's export portfolio to USA demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

USA โ†’ China Imports

$147.30B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Well Diversified
Critical Imports:
10.3% concentration
1Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken
$15.19B
10.3% of imports
2Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude
$12.36B
8.4% of imports
3Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, propane
$8.00B
5.4% of imports
4Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc
$4.79B
3.3% of imports
5Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits
$3.47B
2.4% of imports
6Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$3.41B
2.3% of imports
7Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits
$3.05B
2.1% of imports
8Aeroplanes and other aircraft: of an unladen weight exceeding 15,000kg
$2.57B
1.7% of imports
9Copper: waste and scrap
$2.22B
1.5% of imports
10Electronic integrated circuits: n.e.c. in heading no. 8542
$2.07B
1.4% of imports

๐Ÿ“ฆ Import Strategy Analysis

China's import pattern from USA reveals significant dependencyin soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

๐Ÿ†

Market Leadership

China demonstrates competitive strength in exportingtelephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks to USA, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 20+ Categories
๐Ÿ”„

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
๐Ÿ“ˆ

Growth Potential

The $589.04B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Major Partnership

Executive Summary: China-USA Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $589.04 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: China maintains a surplus of $294.45 billion
  • Export Focus: China's primary exports include telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display, electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from USA include soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, propane

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationDiversified
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

๐Ÿ“ˆ Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents one of the world's largest trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $589.04B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with China leveraging its comparative advantages in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

China's specialization in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networkscomplements USA's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $589.04B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationLow
Market DependencyHigh
๐Ÿ”ฎ

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $589.04B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

๐Ÿ’ฐ

Trade Volume Impact

The $589.04 billion bilateral trade volume represents a major economic driverfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Critical
๐Ÿญ

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks and soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified
โš–๏ธ

Trade Balance Effects

China's trade surplus of $294.45 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

๐Ÿš€Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

โš ๏ธRisk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks may affect future market positioning.

๐ŸŽฏStrategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between China and USA represents a total trade volume of $589.04 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for China, with exports exceeding importsby $294.45 billion.

Export Strengths

China's exports to USA total $441.74 billion, with competitive advantages in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, representing $44.42B or10.1% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from USA amount to $147.30 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken, with Soya beans: other than seed, whether or not broken comprising10.3% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates China's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between China and USA in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) โ€ข Last Updated: January 2025 โ€ข Coverage: 1995-2023