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Visualizing America’s Top Imports from China
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President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Chinese imports when he takes office next year.
In 2018, during his first term in the White House, Trump initiated a trade war with China by imposing 25% tariffs on imports, including industrial machinery, cars, auto parts, and television cameras. These goods accounted for about $50 billion of the $540 billion the United States spent that year on Chinese-made products.
In this graphic, we show the top five goods the U.S. imported from China in 2023. The data was compiled by the Atlantic Council. Since many Chinese manufacturers relocated factories to Vietnam in response to the 2018 trade war, the graphic also includes imports from Vietnam to the United States.
Smartphones, Computers, Toys
The U.S. has diversified its imports from China for goods like bedding, mattresses, and furniture, but remains highly dependent on China for higher-value goods.
In 2023, smartphones, computers, lithium-ion batteries, toys, and video game consoles accounted for 27% of U.S. goods imports from China.
| Product | China | Vietnam | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphones | 76% | 13% | 11% |
| Portable computers | 78% | 17% | 5% |
| Lithium-ion batteries | 70% | 1% | 28% |
| Toys | 77% | 8% | 15% |
| Video game consoles | 87% | 6% | 7% |
China’s share of U.S. battery imports has increased over the past few years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2023, the United States directly imported $13.1 billion in lithium-ion batteries from China, accounting for 70% of all U.S. lithium-ion battery imports that year.
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If you enjoyed this topic, check out this graphic showing which countries are putting tariffs on China’s tech.