WASHINGTON

What does Washington export to China? Trump's tariff battle escalates

Portrait of Andre Byik Andre Byik
Kitsap Sun

The New York Times reports that since taking office, President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese goods by 145%, a figure that includes the increase to 125% announced on April 9 and the 20% import tax Trump previously imposed on China over the movement of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids from China to the U.S.

China has imposed tariffs totaling 84% on all U.S. products, the Times reported.

China is a top trading partner with the U.S. The U.S. imported $438 billion worth of goods from China in 2024, and it exported $144 billion, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said Trump's tariff strategy is bad for business in the state, which he said is one of the most trade-dependent in the country. Washington's global goods exports totaled nearly $60 billion in 2024.

"Our businesses, communities, and trading partners tell me this senseless trade war is making it very challenging to hire or plan for the future," Ferguson said in an April 4 statement. "It is making our ports and product exports less competitive around the globe. And it is damaging relationships that have been decades in the making."

What does Washington state export to China?

Washington exported $12 billion worth of goods to China in 2024, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. That represented 21% of the state's global goods exports. China was the state's largest market.

Washington exported $4.1 billion worth of goods to China in 2023, the U.S.-China Business Council reported.

These were Washington's top goods exports to China in 2023, according to the U.S.-China Business Council:

  1. Aerospace products and parts: $1.9 billion
  2. Navigational and measuring instruments: $333 million
  3. Meat products: $261 million
  4. Marine products: $177 million
  5. Pulp and paperboard mill products: $142 million

What agricultural products does Washington state export to China?

China was Washington's fourth-largest market for Washington-grown or processed food and agricultural products in 2024, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The state exported $693 million worth of agricultural goods to China.

That was down from the $857 million worth of agricultural goods Washington exported to China in 2023, according to the agency.

These were Washington's top 10 agricultural exports to China in 2023, per the Washington State Department of Agriculture:

  1. Beef: $207 million
  2. Fish and seafood: $166 million
  3. Wheat: $105 million
  4. Hay: $103 million
  5. Pulses: $42 million
  6. Fresh sweet cherries: $34 million
  7. Hides, skins and leather: $30 million
  8. Dairy: $26 million
  9. Other food preparations: $22 million
  10. Pork: $20 million

What does the US export to China?

These are the top 10 types of products the U.S. exported to China. The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, calculated the list using domestically produced export data from the U.S. International Trade Commission.

  • Mineral fuel and oil: $13.38 billion, 11% of total exports to China
  • Grains, seeds and fruits: $13.35 billion, 11% of total exports to China
  • Electrical machinery and TV parts: $11.49 billion, 9% of total exports to China
  • Nuclear reactor parts and mechanical appliances: $10.47 billion, 8% of total exports to China
  • Aircraft parts: $10.2 billion, 8% of total exports to China
  • Optical and photographic parts: $8.92 billion, 7% of total exports to China
  • Plastics: $7.17 billion, 6% of total exports to China
  • Vehicle parts and accessories: $6.14 billion, 5% of total exports to China
  • Pharmaceutical products: $4.99 billion, 4% of total exports to China
  • Organic chemicals: $3.88 billion, 3% of total exports to China

What does the US import from China?

These are the top 10 types of products the U.S. imported from China, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Commission:

  • Electrical machinery and TV parts: $124.97 billion, 28% of total imports from China
  • Nuclear reactor parts and mechanical appliances: $82 billion, 18% of total imports from China
  • Toys, games and sports equipment: $30.03 billion, 7% of imports from China
  • Plastics: $19.29 billion, 4% of total imports from China
  • Furniture, lamps and pre-fabricated buildings: $18.52, 4% of total imports from China
  • Vehicles: $16.85 billion, 4% of total imports from China
  • Iron and steel: $11.98 billion, 3% of total imports from China
  • Optical and photographic parts: $11.88 billion, 3% of total imports from China
  • Clothing: $9.99 billion, 2% of total imports from China
  • Shoes: $9.78 billion, 2% of total imports from China

Why did Trump pause reciprocal tariffs?

At midnight Eastern time on April 9, the White House imposed double-digit rates on dozens of countries. Hours later, Trump reversed course, lowering tariffs on goods from dozens of countries to 10% for 90 days. The reprieve from global tariffs sparked a historic surge on Wall Street, but uncertainty remains on Main Street. 

Trump and his top economic advisers said they paused the tariffs after more than 75 countries approached the United States ready to negotiate. But he also told reporters that the market turbulence played a role.

"I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line," Trump said. “They were getting yippy, you know. They were getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid."

But trade deals will not happen immediately, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News. "The real deals will take some time," Lutnick said on April 9. 

Contributing: Reia Li, USA TODAY Network; Bailey Schulz and Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY