The Trump administration stated that its trade strategy has significantly lessened America’s reliance on China economically. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer informed lawmakers that the bilateral goods trade deficit with China is now at its lowest point in twenty years. Greer emphasized that the trade deficit in goods with China dropped to $200 billion in 2025, the lowest since 2005, with China’s share of total US imports at around 9%, the lowest since its entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001.
The administration’s tariff-driven trade policy has been instrumental in redirecting trade away from China while promoting domestic manufacturing and production. Greer highlighted that this shift reflects a broader initiative to decrease dependence on Chinese supply chains while boosting American exports and industrial output. He noted that the US has enhanced its export capacity, leading to record levels of goods and services exports between February and May this year.
Greer also defended the administration’s approach to China’s dominance in critical minerals, mentioning that Beijing has committed to expediting export control approvals for US firms. Despite challenges in the pace of supplies reaching the US, efforts are underway to accelerate domestic production to reduce reliance on Chinese resources. The strategic competition between the US and China now extends beyond trade to encompass advanced technology, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and military influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
