U.S., Japan and South Korea scale back trade reliance on China

Global economic rift widens as emerging countries embrace Beijing

A container ship is docked at the Tianjin port in China. Mexico overtook China in 2023 as the top exporter to the U.S. (Xinhua via Kyodo)

IORI KAWATE and RINTARO TOBITA, Nikkei staff writers

February 8, 2024 03:17 JST

BEIJING/WASHINGTON -- The U.S., Japan and other major economies have curbed their reliance on China since the trade war between Washington and Beijing began five years ago, casting a shadow over global economic growth.

China's combined trade with the U.S., Japan, South Korea and the European Union totals $2 trillion, accounting for 35% of its overall volume, according to data from the Group of 20 nations analyzed by Nikkei.