Chinese holdings of US Treasuries fall to lowest point since 2019
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Chinese holdings are becoming harder to track as China moves its assets toward securities depositories to diversify and protect itself from risks.
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US and Chinese flags are set up at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on July 8, 2023. (AP)
China's holdings of US treasuries have fallen to their lowest level since 2009, as it shifts towards holding US government bonds through low-profile accounts and diversifying its portfolio with alternative assets such as gold.
US sovereign debt held by Chinese investors decreased by $57 billion, reaching $759 billion in 2024 according to data by the US Treasury, noting that this does not include Chinese-owned treasuries held in accounts located in other countries.
"China made a decision around 2010 that holding Treasuries was a risk, it looked bad optically that so much of China’s wealth was in the hands of a geopolitical rival," Brad Setser, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former US Treasury official said, according to the Financial Times.
Stetser added, "It has become more difficult over time to track what China is doing and how Chinese flows are impacting global markets," explaining that the decline in Chinese holdings could be exaggerated by assets being moved to securities depositories like Euroclear and Clearstream.
United States, China get into economic 'row'
US President Donald Trump imposed a 25% levy on most exports from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% on Chinese goods on February 2, justifying it by pinning responsibility for the US' fentanyl and immigration problems on the three countries.
Beijing responded on February 4 by imposing its own set of tariffs: 10% tariffs on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and certain cars, and a 15% levy on US coal and liquefied natural gas, following that up with adding PVH Corp (owners of Calvin Klein) and biotech company Illumina to its list of unreliable companies.
China also requested a World Trade Organization dispute consultation regarding Trump's tariff measures on February 5, stating that "China reserves the right to raise additional measures and claims regarding the matters identified herein during the course of consultations and in any future request for the establishment of a panel."
Trump warned on Thursday that he could impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations if they "play games with the dollar," adding that "If any trading gets through, it'll be 100% tariff, at least," announcing that he wants to hold talks with Russia and China regarding defense spending.
