Infographic: How Asia-Pacific Trades With China & The U.S.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Key Takeaways
- Data from 2023 reveals that China trades more than the U.S. in Asia-Pacific
- Tariff threats from the U.S. could help China expand its influence over the region
In the Asia-Pacific region, economic power plays a major role in determining geopolitical influence. This is because trade relationships, especially those with dominant economies, often shape diplomatic priorities and regional alliances.
In this infographic, we’ve visualized trade flows between key Asia-Pacific countries and the world’s two superpowers, the U.S. and China.
Data & Discussion
The data for this visualization comes from Council on Foreign Relations. Figures represent goods trade value from 2023.
| Country | Exports to China ($B) |
Exports to U.S. ($B) |
Imports from China ($B) |
Imports from U.S. ($B) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 120 | 13 | 72 | 32 |
| Japan | 126 | 145 | 168 | 76 |
| Malaysia | 42 | 35 | 57 | 20 |
| South Korea | 125 | 116 | 143 | 72 |
| Thailand | 34 | 48 | 71 | 19 |
| Vietnam | 61 | 97 | 111 | 14 |
From this table, we can see that all of these countries import significantly more goods from China. The largest differentials are found in Vietnam ($97 billion more imported from China) and Japan ($92 billion more).
Export flows are mixed, with Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam exporting more goods to America. Australia leans heavily the other way, exporting $120 billion worth of goods to China but only $13 billion to the U.S.
The total value of goods trade between these nations is listed in the next table. From this perspective, it’s clear that China is winning when it comes to trade.
| Country | Total China Trade Value ($B) | Total U.S. Trade Value ($B) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | $192 | $45 |
| Japan | $294 | $221 |
| Malaysia | $99 | $55 |
| South Korea | $268 | $188 |
| Thailand | $105 | $67 |
| Vietnam | $172 | $111 |
Is America Losing Trust?
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Trump’s reciprocal tariff push is harming America’s reputation in Asia-Pacific as a reliable trading partner.
China appears to be taking advantage of this volatility. In April 2025, for example, it restarted talks with South Korea and Japan to introduce a free trade agreement. It is also working to warm ties with Australia, despite recent spats over things like COVID-19 and coal imports.
Beijing is now promoting itself in the region as the only stable economic power left in the world, and it has ramped up aid and foreign investment to shore up the vacuum left by the United States.
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