China has solidified its position as a dominant force in global trade in the 21st century, a trend that continues in 2025. This comes amid Donald Trump's return to the White House and the imposition of new tariffs, sparking renewed debate about China's global influence.
At the start of the 21st century, the United States led with $2 trillion in total trade, more than four times China's $474 billion. However, by 2024, U.S. foreign trade grew by 167%, while China's surged by over 1,200%. In the first quarter of 2025, China's foreign trade reached 10.3 trillion yuan ($1.41 trillion), marking a 1.3% year-on-year increase. Exports rose 6.9%, while imports decreased by 6%.
Since 2012, China has surpassed the U.S. in total trade volume. While the U.S. remains a key trade partner for some South American nations like Colombia, countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru have increasingly prioritized trade with China. China's trade dominance is also evident in Africa, with overall trade between China and Africa increasing by 2.7% year-on-year in Q1 2025, reaching $72.6 billion. Even in countries like Australia, trade flows are increasingly leaning towards China.