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Strategic Lens

China and Japan

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 157.5 billion of goods to Japan and bought USD 165.0 billion from it. Both are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 62 percent in 2023, and 66 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 810 thousand people born in China lived in Japan, and 40 thousand people born in Japan lived in China.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 157.5 billion and Japan sold USD 165.0 billion in 2025.
  • BothTrade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 36.6 billion and Japan sold USD 47.4 billion in 2025.
  • BothTrade in electrical and electronic equipment runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 38.5 billion and Japan sold USD 51.0 billion in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals is 42 percent below its 2023 peak of USD 4.25 billion.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 10.4 billion of agricultural and food products, against USD 897 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 374 million of fertilisers, against USD 14.5 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 322.5 billion
2025, as reported by China
China to Japan
USD 157.5 billion
2025, as reported by China
Japan to China
USD 165.0 billion
2025, as reported by China

What connects China and Japan

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, China sold USD 157.5 billion of goods to Japan and bought USD 165.0 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, China sold USD 2.41 billion of mineral fuels and oils to Japan and bought USD 697 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, China sold USD 592 million of critical minerals and metals to Japan and bought USD 1.87 billion from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, China sold USD 10.4 billion of agricultural and food products to Japan and bought USD 897 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 374 million of fertilisers to Japan and bought USD 14.5 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, China sold USD 36.6 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to Japan and bought USD 47.4 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, China sold USD 38.5 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to Japan and bought USD 51.0 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 315 million of pharmaceutical products to Japan and bought USD 2.05 billion from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 62 percent in 2023, and 66 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 810 thousand people born in China lived in Japan, and 40 thousand people born in Japan lived in China.

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