Foreign Media: The U.S. trade landscape has undergone a significant shift compared to the same period in 2025 during the first quarter of 2026.
In the first quarter, U.S. trade with China decreased by approximately $49 billion, as trade disputes prompted both countries to accelerate their transition toward alternative supply chains. Trade with Ireland declined by $44 billion, primarily due to a surge in GLP-1 weight-loss hormone exports in 2025 driven by tariff hikes, followed by a sharp drop afterward. Trade with Switzerland fell by $36 billion, with Canada down $22 billion, and Germany and Australia each seeing declines of about $8 billion and $7 billion respectively.
The largest increase in trade for the U.S. was with Taiwan, rising by $39 billion, mainly driven by the AI boom, resulting in a surge in demand for semiconductors and servers—products largely exempt from U.S. tariffs. Trade with Vietnam increased by $18 billion, as numerous American companies shifted production from China to Vietnam, while some Chinese firms also used Vietnam as a conduit to circumvent tariffs. Trade with Mexico grew by $16 billion, while trade with the UK, Hong Kong, and South Korea each rose by approximately $70 to $90 billion, and trade with Malaysia increased by $5 billion.
Tariff negotiations are profoundly reshaping global supply chains, with Asian alternative production hubs continuing to benefit.
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1865587178850315/
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