China and trade
China and the EU
In 2020, China became the EU鈥檚 top trading partner, with trade worth $709 billion, overtaking the US whose trade with the EU was worth $671 billlion. (Source: 大象传媒 News)
China and the UK
According to the Office of National Statistics (O.N.S.) in 2021, China was the UK's largest import partner and sixth-largest export partner for goods.
- The UK imported 拢63.6 billion of goods from China in 2021 (13.3% of all goods imports to the UK).
- The UK exported 拢18.8 billion of goods (5.8% of all goods exports from the UK to China).
The main goods import from China in 2021 were:
- machinery and transport equipment (拢27.5 billion)
- primarily office machinery and telecoms and sound equipment
- machinery and transport equipment were also the main goods export (拢7.7 billion)
China's influence in Africa
China is Africa鈥檚 biggest trading partner with trade of over $200 billion per year. This has been largely through China鈥檚 Belt and Road initiative, a global investment strategy aimed at funding infrastructure projects in 150 countries.
China has increased their economic and political influence in the African continent. For example, Chinese companies have been involved in building new train lines in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya, as well as military bases in countries like Djibouti.
China benefits from this initiative by increasing its global economic share. An increase in political support from many African nations within the UN security council and an increase in China鈥檚 military capabilities, as it build Chinese bases in many of the African nations.