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Strategic Lens

China and United States

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 421.0 billion of goods to United States and bought USD 141.2 billion from it. Both are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 28 percent in 2023, and 24 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 2.5 million people born in China lived in United States, and 60 thousand people born in United States lived in China.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils grew 113 percent, from USD 5.01 billion in 2019 to USD 10.7 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals grew about 7.1 times, from USD 383 million in 2019 to USD 2.73 billion in 2025.
  • BothTrade in agricultural and food products runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 10.5 billion and United States sold USD 15.3 billion in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, United States sold USD 9.69 billion of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 985 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, China sold USD 2.33 billion of critical minerals and metals, against USD 399 million the other way.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products is 46 percent below its 2022 peak of USD 48.3 billion.

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 562.2 billion
2025, as reported by China
China to United States
USD 421.0 billion
2025, as reported by China
United States to China
USD 141.2 billion
2025, as reported by China

What connects China and United States

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, China sold USD 421.0 billion of goods to United States and bought USD 141.2 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, China sold USD 985 million of mineral fuels and oils to United States and bought USD 9.69 billion from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, China sold USD 2.33 billion of critical minerals and metals to United States and bought USD 399 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, China sold USD 10.5 billion of agricultural and food products to United States and bought USD 15.3 billion from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 6.1 million of fertilisers to United States and bought USD 35.3 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, China sold USD 86.8 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to United States and bought USD 21.9 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, China sold USD 96.5 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to United States and bought USD 34.8 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 2.54 billion of pharmaceutical products to United States and bought USD 6.17 billion from it.

Security

Defence and armsIn 2025, China sold USD 93.6 million of arms and ammunition to United States.Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, China sold USD 119 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to United States and bought USD 156 million from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 28 percent in 2023, and 24 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 2.5 million people born in China lived in United States, and 60 thousand people born in United States lived in China.

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