U.S.-China Trade Issues and Patterns

U.S.-China economic ties have expanded substantially over the past three decades. Total U.S.-China trade rose from $5 billion in 1981 to an estimated $503 billion in 2011, and is projected to reach $539 billion in 2012. China is currently the United States' second-largest trading partner, its third-largest export market, and its biggest source of imports. Because U.S. imports from China have risen much more rapidly than U.S. exports to China, the U.S. merchandise trade deficit has grown from $10 billion in 1990 to $296 billion in 2011, and is projected to reach $311 billion in 2012. The rapid pace of economic integration between China and the U.S., while benefiting both sides overall, has made the trade relationship increasingly complex. This book provides an overview of U.S.-China trade relations, surveys major trade disputes, and lists bills introduced in Congress that could affect bilateral commercial ties.