China Exports a Billion Worth of Goods to the US Daily Despite Rising Tariffs
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A recent report revealed that China has continued to export about $1 billion worth of goods to the US daily, defying tariffs of up to 55%. The continued exportation shows how China maintains a strong negotiating position in the ongoing trade talks as both nations vie for control of global supply chains.
There was a recent surge in the sales of some Chinese goods, such as ebikes and electronics, in 2025, despite double-digit declines in the value of global commerce over the last six months. The rebound defies ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.
China’s Trade Resilience Defies US Tariffs
Chang Shu and David Qu, two Bloomberg economists, claimed that US tariffs appear to have limited power to regulate the imports of American companies.
The duo argued that, because of China’s dominance in industries like electronics and rare earths, removing its products from global supply chains is difficult, at least in the short term. They added that China’s dominance might shift in the future, particularly if Trump raises tariffs further.
Chang Shu and David Qu noted that,
“China’s strong position in global supply chains gives it some bargaining power with US importers in the near term.”
The economists cautioned that other countries cannot easily replace China as a supplier to the US, claiming that realigning production will take time.
According to the economists, Chinese President Xi Jinping is gaining more bargaining power as his trade negotiators head into talks aimed at extending a 90-day tariff truce that’s set to expire in November.
More than $100 billion worth of Chinese commodities reached the United States in the third quarter. The economists claimed that these commodities help Beijing maintain economic growth in line with its yearly goal and increase the bilateral trade surplus to $67 billion.
China’s customs data reveal an increase in shipments of e-cigarettes last quarter, despite almost all the top 10 exports to the US declining in the same period compared to the same period a year earlier.
Strong demand for e-bikes is also evident in the United States. In the three months ending in September, Chinese companies exported over $500 million worth of e-bikes, representing a modest increase over the same period last year.
Over the last three months, the value of exported refined copper cathodes has also increased from nearly zero to $270 million, while the value of electrical cables has increased by 87% to $405 million.
According to Zhaopeng Xing, senior China strategist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group,
“Both sides may reduce dependence on each other, but it cannot be reduced to zero.”
Xing added that cracks in Trump’s tariff wall are likely enabling some trade by keeping costs down.
He further explained that American importers can avoid paying a higher charge by declaring the customs value of products based on their first sale in a third nation.
Xing suggested that the American importers can then boost the price when the commodities arrive at a US port. He claimed that by transshipping through Vietnam or Mexico, some businesses are probably not paying the entire tax.
Xing added,
“There are a lot of loopholes.” US Customs “just don’t have enough manpower to address them.”
Chinese Exports Endure Amid Rising Tariffs
Chinese corporations shipped about $8 billion worth of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and computer parts to the United States during the July-September quarter.
Customers in the United States have continued to purchase packages from online retailers such as Shein Group and PDD Holdings, including Temu.
Chinese data revealed that since the Trump administration closed the loophole in May, almost $5.4 billion worth of these tiny parcels had been shipped to the United States despite being subject to a 54% charge.
The Japan Times reported that, given that Trump prioritizes onshoring vital industries and wants to restore American manufacturing, trade between the US and China will decline in the future. Shipments from China have already fallen to less than $320 billion this year, which is comparable to the amount in 2017, before Trump’s first trade war.
