China becomes top US trade partner

In this Sept. 25 photo, United States President Barack Obama (right) pauses during a joint news conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Figures from the US Department of Commerce show that China has replaced Canada for the first time as the top trade partner of the US between January and September. AP

China replaced Canada for the first time as the United States’ top trade partner between January and September, figures from the US Department of Commerce showed.

Trade volume between China and the US hit $441.6 billion in the first three quarters of the year, surpassing the $438.1 billion in trade between Canada and the US, the commerce department reported on Wednesday in Washington.

The change mainly reflected declining prices for commodities, such as crude oil. The value of US oil imports fell to the lowest level since 2004, and crude oil is Canada’s largest export.

But the US demand for higher value-added goods from China has increased.

“This is a milestone for China’s exports and reflects an inevitable shift from shipping low-end goods such as toys, clothes and cups, to higher value-added products to the world’s largest economy,” said Li Guanghui, vice president of the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

The US government has made specific plans, including the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership program, to accelerate the modernization of its traditional industries. As a result, US companies need to import more manufacturing and electronic equipment, as well as parts to improve efficiency and competitive power.

“As China is under an industrial boom to upgrade its manufacturing structure, its fast-growing industries such as big data, high-speed rail equipment, household digital and intelligent devices, and interactive and ultrahigh-definition electronic products will be the main goods to be shipped to the US over the next decade,” said Li.

Chinese companies’ investment to the US also jumped 51 percent year-on-year to $6.35 billion in the first half of this year.