China no longer top exporter to U.S. as trade rift widens

Mexico and Canada take over amid tariffs and 'friendshoring'

German automaker BMW is expanding a plant in Mexico, which has outstripped China in exports to the U.S. in the first five months of this year. © Reuters

RINTARO TOBITA, IORI KAWATE and TAKAFUMI HOTTA, Nikkei staff writers

July 14, 2023 01:45 JST

WASHINGTON/BEIJING/NEW YORK -- China likely lost the title of the top exporter of goods to the U.S. in the first half for the first time in 15 years, outpaced by Mexico and Canada amid decoupling between the world's two biggest economies.