Trump Tariffs: What Goods Commonly Move Between the US and China

ANALYSIS, April 23, 2025 — The trade relationship between the United States and China is one of the most significant in the global economy, with billions of dollars in goods exchanged annually. However, this relationship has been heavily influenced by tariffs imposed during Donald Trump’s presidencies, particularly as tensions escalated into a trade war. As of April 23, 2025, these tariffs have reshaped the flow of goods, prompting shifts in what each country buys from the other.

What the US Buys from China

The United States imports a vast array of goods from China, reflecting China’s role as a manufacturing powerhouse. In 2024, the US purchased $439 billion worth of goods from China, a figure that underscores the depth of this trade dependency. The following categories represent the most significant imports:

• Electronics and Technology: Electronics are a cornerstone of US imports from China. This includes smartphones (73% of which come from China), laptops (78%), and video game consoles (87%). Other critical items include computers, disc drives, and automatic data processing equipment. These products have been partially shielded from the highest tariffs, with exemptions noted in April 2025 for items like smartphones and laptops, keeping their tariff rate at a baseline 20% rather than the 145% applied to other Chinese goods.

• Industrial Machinery and Equipment: The US relies on China for nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances, which accounted for a significant portion of imports. In 2024, electrical machinery and equipment alone made up 9.1% of US imports from China, valued at $11.5 billion.

• Consumer Goods: Everyday items such as clothing, shoes, and toys dominate US imports. China supplies 77% of US toys and a substantial share of apparel, though exact percentages vary. These goods face steep tariffs, with rates reaching 145% as of April 2025, potentially driving up costs for American consumers.

• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies: Antibiotics and other medical products are also imported from China, though specific volumes are less detailed in recent data. These imports have become a point of contention, with tariffs prompting discussions about reshoring production to the US.

• Rare Earth Minerals: China is a primary source of rare earths, critical for tech manufacturing. Recent export curbs by China, announced in April 2025, have disrupted supplies, affecting companies like Tesla.

Despite the tariffs, which peaked at 145% on most Chinese goods in April 2025, the US continues to import heavily from China. However, exemptions for electronics and solar products (43-45% of China’s exports to the US, or $225-236 billion annually) indicate a strategic softening to mitigate consumer price shocks.

What China Buys from the US

China’s imports from the US are smaller in volume, totaling $143.5 billion in 2024, reflecting a trade imbalance that Trump’s tariffs aim to address. These imports focus on agricultural and resource-based products, though recent retaliatory tariffs have reduced some purchases:

• Agricultural Products: Soybeans are the largest single US export to China, valued at $13.3 billion in 2024 (10.6% of total exports), primarily used as pig feed. Other key agricultural exports include corn, wheat, cotton, pork, beef, chicken, and dairy products. China’s retaliatory tariffs, reaching 125% by April 2025, have hit these goods hard, with measures like suspending sorghum and poultry imports from some US firms.

• Mineral Fuels: Mineral fuels, including oil, accounted for $13.4 billion (10.7% of exports) in 2024. However, posts on X suggest China has stopped buying American oil due to tariffs, though this lacks official confirmation as of April 23, 2025.

• Machinery and Aircraft: China imports nuclear reactors, boilers, and aircraft parts from the US, valued at $10.5 billion (8.3% of exports) in 2024. Aircraft purchases, notably from Boeing, have reportedly declined, with X posts claiming China has halted these imports, though data is inconclusive.

• Other Goods: Smaller categories include aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and lumber. China suspended US lumber imports in March 2025, and soybean import licenses for three US firms were revoked, signaling a broader retaliatory stance.

China’s imports have shifted since the trade war intensified. Retaliatory tariffs, starting at 34% in April 2025 and escalating to 125%, have reduced reliance on US goods, with China turning to alternatives like Brazilian soybeans.

The Impact of Trump’s Tariffs

Trump’s tariff strategy, relaunched in his second term, began with a 10% baseline on Chinese goods in February 2025, escalating to 145% by April 11, 2025, alongside a 20% fentanyl-related tariff. China countered with tariffs rising from 34% to 125% on US goods. These measures aim to reduce the US trade deficit ($295 billion in 2024) and encourage domestic manufacturing, but they’ve had mixed effects:

• US Imports: High tariffs have made Chinese goods like clothing and toys more expensive, yet exemptions for electronics show a reluctance to fully disrupt supply chains. Companies like Hobby Lobby delayed shipments in April 2025, reflecting uncertainty.

• China Imports: China’s retaliation has hurt US farmers, with soybean and meat exports declining. The American Soybean Association warns of long-term losses, echoing the $27 billion in export sales lost during Trump’s first-term trade war.

• Economic Fallout: The tariffs have sparked fears of recession, with US consumer confidence dropping in April 2025 (University of Michigan index at 50.8) and inflation expectations rising to 6.7%. Stock markets lost $5.8 trillion in value post-tariff announcements.

Final Thoughts

The US and China trade a diverse mix of goods, from electronics and machinery to soybeans and oil. Trump’s tariffs have disrupted this exchange, raising costs and shifting supply chains, yet both nations remain intertwined. The US continues to buy heavily from China despite tariffs, while China’s purchases from the US have waned under retaliatory pressure. As of April 23, 2025, the trade war shows no signs of resolution, with both sides digging in, leaving consumers and businesses to navigate the fallout.

The United States imports a vast array of goods from China, reflecting China’s role as a manufacturing powerhouse. In 2024, the US purchased $439 billion worth of goods from China, a figure that highlights the depth of this trade dependency.