Chinese Economy: General News, Updates and Discussions

[Beijingwalker]

Mapped: Do Countries Trade More With the U.S. or China?​

July 2, 2026
By Jeff Desjardins

Key Takeaways​

• China is now the largest trading partner for 151 countries, or roughly 73% of the world.
• Those countries account for $4.6 trillion in bilateral trade with China, versus $3.0 trillion for the 57 countries that trade more with the U.S.
• The U.S. remains strongest across North America and parts of Europe, while China dominates across Asia, Africa, and much of South America.

China has overtaken the U.S. as the largest trading partner for most countries around the world, reflecting a dramatic shift in global commerce over the last two decades.

This map compares every country’s larger trading partner using 2025 bilateral trade data from the IMF’s Direction of Trade Statistics, showing where China’s trade footprint has expanded and where the U.S. still maintains stronger relationships.

Countries Trading More with China​

China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 marked the beginning of a profound shift in global trade. Since then, rapid industrialization, export growth, and deeper supply-chain integration have helped China become the largest trading partner for most countries worldwide.

In 2000, there were only 33 countries that traded more with China than the United States. Today, that number has climbed to 151.

One of the map’s biggest surprises is China’s reach beyond Asia. It is now the larger trading partner for roughly half of European countries, as well as many of South America’s largest economies, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

While almost all of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia trade more with China, Israel stands out as one exception.

North America remains a stronghold for U.S. trade, though these relationships face renewed uncertainty after the USMCA deal was not renewed in its current form.

Who Trades More in Dollar Terms?​

China’s broader trade footprint also translates into larger aggregate trade volumes.

Across the countries where it is the dominant partner, bilateral trade totaled roughly $4.6 trillion in 2025, compared with $3.0 trillion for the countries that traded more with the United States.

While the U.S. has fewer partner countries, its average trade relationship is substantially larger.

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China is now the biggest trading partner for most countries. See which nations trade more with China versus the U.S. in this map.

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