China’s 2025 trade surplus hits record $1.2 trillion despite US tariffs | Metals Mine

  • China’s 2025 trade surplus hits record $1.2 trillion despite US tariffs

    From msn.com

    China’s exports ended last year with a growth spurt and sent its trade surplus to a record $1.2 trillion in 2025, extending a boom that’s seen factories escape Donald Trump’s tariffs by making deeper inroads into markets beyond the US. The resilience was the biggest surprise for an ailing Chinese economy last year and could cushion it in the months to come. Defying expectations for a slowdown, exports picked up last month — a feat given a high base of comparison from a year ago, when Trump’s re-election to the presidency sparked panicked front-loading of orders. The 6.6% gain in December was the quickest in ... (full story)

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thesaint9
Jan 14, 2026 2:21pm
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Quoting Riziq-Cap
For tariffs to work you need an equivalent produced domestically. Lets explain this for dummies: If China produces 1 ton steal for 10000$, but US domestic manufacturer produces the same product but at 15000$, maybe due to higher salary, regulation etc whatever. Slapping China with 100% tariffs will make their product reach the market at 20000$, while domestic produced still cost 15000$. This way domestic produced will be preferred due to cost, while Chinese product can still be accessed in case domestic production cant satisfy total demand. This...
I also do not think Americans are ready to take on the same type of wages as Chinese people do to make the same products. America shifted from factories to the innovation and service industries, which pay high salaries. The whole idea of bringing back manufacturing just does not make any sense to me. Like Dave Chappelle said, "I want to wear Nike, not make them." Although it does make sense for high-tech manufacturing to protect intellectual property. But slapping a blanket tariff or not offering any meaningful incentive is outright silly.
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Riziq-Cap
Jan 14, 2026 2:01pm
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For tariffs to work you need an equivalent produced domestically.

Lets explain this for dummies: If China produces 1 ton steal for 10000$, but US domestic manufacturer produces the same product but at 15000$, maybe due to higher salary, regulation etc whatever.

Slapping China with 100% tariffs will make their product reach the market at 20000$, while domestic produced still cost 15000$.

This way domestic produced will be preferred due to cost, while Chinese product can still be accessed in case domestic production cant satisfy total demand.

This is called strategy, every country does this.

Now if you don't have domestic production, you are just taxing your people/businesses for no strategic reason other than robbing them, while publicly lying about China gonna pay the tariff.

In neither of these examples, does China pay the extra tariff, its always the importer or end consumer that ends up footing the extra bill - the difference is if applied strategically, it can help boost local producers, which can actually have positive effect on the economy as job growth etc.

You cant build a car factory in months, it need years, same with steel and many other industrialized production, it takes time to build factories - when you just slap tariffs with no domestic replacement you are just taxing your own people, nothing else.
Azkilleur
Jan 14, 2026 1:06pm
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Us absorbs the biggest part of the chinese exports so yeah either the numbers are rigged or China is unstoppable,i lean more to the latter
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Trader#8500
Jan 14, 2026 5:54pm
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China exported more than 7 million cars, it is number one in the World way more than the second car exporter, Japan. Exporting cars gives China way more money than exporting plastic toys and other low-priced products. This explains why surplus is growing. And this is without the US, as car exports from China to the US is near zero.
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Trader#3698
Jan 14, 2026 12:02pm
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the tariffs were not to minimize China's surplus, but rather to minimize USA's trade deficit. and that was indeed achieved.
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Trader#E52D
Jan 14, 2026 1:37pm
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Quoting Trader#3698
the tariffs were not to minimize China's surplus, but rather to minimize USA's trade deficit. and that was indeed achieved.
Which means absolutely nothing.
Reply

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