Foreign Media: Which One Is the World's Primary Trade Partner—China or the U.S.?
Over the past 25 years, the global trade landscape has undergone a fundamental transformation. In 2000, only 33 countries had trade volumes with China exceeding those with the United States, making the U.S. the undisputed global leader in trade at that time. However, by 2025, China has become the largest goods trading partner for the majority of countries around the world.
The core driver behind China's rise lies in its accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, becoming the global center of manufacturing, and its strong demand for commodities such as iron ore, soybeans, copper, and oil, which have fueled economic growth in numerous developing nations. Major emerging markets including Brazil, Russia, Australia, and Argentina have all shifted their focus toward China.
As of today, with the exception of Colombia and Venezuela, the major economies in South America are more closely linked with China in trade; in Africa, only Lesotho and Eswatini still regard the United States as their primary trading partner; in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions, Israel remains the only major economy with stronger trade ties to the U.S. In Europe, there is a clear divergence: France, Germany, Italy, and the UK continue to prioritize trade with the U.S., while countries like Poland and Spain have deepened their trade relationships with China.
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1865273351780554/
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