Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".

US, China trade hits high record amid recent diplomatic tensions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Feb 2023 13:38
4 Min Read

Official figures demonstrate that US imports from China jumped to $536.8 billion last year since Americans splurged on Chinese goods such as toys and phones, while US exports to China increased to $153.8 billion.

  • x
  • US President Joe Biden during the State of the Union speech on Feb. 07, 2023 (Bloomberg)
    US President Joe Biden during the State of the Union speech on Feb. 07, 2023. (Bloomberg)

Despite escalating tensions following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and the downed Chinese surveillance balloon, trade between the US and China has skyrocketed with a total of $690.6 billion in imports and exports in 2022. 

However, diplomatic relations have declined for the past week since the balloon incident, which caused a row, with the US claiming it was a 'spy' balloon and China stating it was for research purposes.

Official figures demonstrate that American imports from China jumped to $536.8 billion last year since Americans splurged on Chinese goods such as toys and phones, while US exports to China increased to $153.8 billion.

Read next: Chinese balloon, among many more, part of aerial spy program: US intel

Deborah Elms, the founder of the Asian Trade Centre, relayed to the BBC: "I think it's an important indication of the difficulties of actually decoupling," as she added: "Even if governments, firms and consumers wanted to separate, the economics make it difficult to deliver products in a decoupled world at a price that firms and consumers are willing to pay," 

No need to panic

The trade wars began in 2018 when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on a massive $300 billion worth of Chinese products after China retaliated by setting import levies on approximately $100 billion of US goods.

Talks have been proceeding back and forth, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to visit China from February 5 to 6 in an attempt to mark the dissolution of tensions in a way between both countries.  

Related News

Iran condemns Trump’s Knesset remarks, accuses US of hypocrisy

MENA journalists in US report heightened scrutiny since Gaza war began

Read next: US delegation to arrive in Taiwan for trade talks over 3 days

He was due to discuss a broad selection of issues ranging from Taiwan, Covid-19, and security. However, his trip go postponed after the US sot-down the Chinese balloon, which sent the US into panic mode. 

The balloon was located over the North American Aerospace Defense Command on January 28 over Alaska before it got detected over missile sites in Montana. Days later, after tracking, the US decided to shoot it down over the South Carolina coast. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday that "China... never violated the territory and airspace of any sovereign country," adding that "some politicians and media in the United States used the (balloon) incident as a pretext to attack and smear China."

In light of the balloon shoot-down and the Chinese response of possible retaliation, Kirby assured that no reason exists to escalate tensions between the US and China over the balloon and that Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to China "was postponed, it was not canceled.” 

Trade wars to tech wars 

During the State of the Union speech on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden did not discuss the recent balloon matter but emphasized his commitment to protect American interests.

"I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world. But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did," he said.

But trade is not the only battlefield between them. 

China has filed a case with the World Trade Organization, pushing back against US export sanctions on microchips, further fueling the tech war between Washington and Beijing. In December, China's ministry of commerce said that its WTO complaint was a legal and necessary measure to defend its "legitimate rights and interests."

For context, in October, the US Department of Commerce introduced sanctions on China, putting hurdles in Beijing's way to buy or develop advanced semiconductors. 

  • United States
  • Chinese balloon
  • China
  • state of the union
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Freed Palestinian prisoners carry rifles as they arrive in the Gaza Strip following their release from Israeli jails, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian resistance remains steadfast, victorious Larijani says

Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Laffan inspecting the command structure of the 10th Infantry Brigade in Kfarskhna-Zgharta on October 13, 2025. (Lebanonese Army)
Politics

Lebanese Army chief: Israeli aggression threatens Lebanon's security

Hamas fighters escort buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arriving in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

154 Palestinian prisoners exiled to Egypt under exchange deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives before US President Donald Trump addresses the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, October 13, 2025 in Occupied Al-Quds. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Politics

Netanyahu withdraws from Sharm el-Sheikh summit amid regional pushback

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS