According to customs statistics, the US was the largest market for Chinese exports in 1999. China¡¯s total trade with the US was worth US$61.47 billion, up 12.1% from 1998. Chinese exports to the US totaled US$41.94 billion, up 10.5% from the year before. The exports to the US account for 21.5% of China¡¯s total exports. Chinese imports from America totaled US$19.53 billion, up 15.7%. China¡¯s trade surplus with the US was US$22.41 billion, a 6.7% increase.

China¡¯s primary exports to the US were labor intensive processed products. In 1999, clothing, packaging and textiles accounted for less than 70% of China¡¯s total value of exports to the US.

Technology intensive products and raw materials were the primary American imports.