China is the World's top Trade Partner

As an Exporter of manufactured products or as an importer of commodities China has now overtaken the U.S as the World's leading Trade Partner, in just five years China has taken the top shot. According to an Associated Press analysis of trade data as recently as 2006 the U.S was the world's dominate Trade Partner as the leading Trade Partner for 127 countries versus China's 70. In 2011 China and the U.S traded places with China being the leading Trade Partner for 124 countries versus the U.S 76.

China surpassing the United States as a leading trading partner for much of the world is more to do with a rising China than a declining U.S. In 2002 trade with China was 3% of countries GDP average compared to the U.S 8.7%, by 2008 China had overtaken the U.S. In 2011 trade with China averaged 12.4% of GDP for other countries. All trade is not equal with China tending to sell lower end products with the U.S competing at the higher end of the market. Chinese Companies are starting investing heavily aboard but they still lag behind U.S companies in terms of global alliances and in technology and innovation, which rewards the U.S in the global marketplace. China's competitive edge remains low labor while the US still a leader in the many industry's such as Aerospace, Autos, Finance, ICT, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals and Weapons. One Industry that provides an insight in the difference between China and World Class Auto manufacturers is that China does not yet manufacture a car that would pass the U.S or Europe's strict emission standards.