Interactive: China diversifies trade partners to mitigate US tariff impact

Early March, during its most important annual political event, the "Two Sessions," China reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing international trade and deepening both multilateral and bilateral economic and trade cooperation with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. The need to diversify trade partners is particularly pressing in 2025, as the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on various trade partners, with China being a primary target.

Although the US is not a primary destination for Chinese steel and semi-finished aluminum products, Trump's tariffs are expected to disrupt existing trade flows. Meanwhile, the US has been a key supplier of ethane, propane, copper scrap, LNG and soybeans to China. China's countermeasures or potential tariffs against the US could disrupt supply chains for these commodities.

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