The US trade deficit with China often assumes center stage in discussions of the US-China commercial relationship, but the deficit is neither the most important barometer of US economic health nor the best measure of the benefits the US gains from trade. The size of the imbalance is often overstated. The United States reaps important benefits from two-way trade.
China is one of the United States's fastest-growing export markets.
US consumers benefit from the ability to purchase low-cost imports from China. US measures inflate the bilateral trade deficit. The United States measures exports and imports on different bases. China is one of the fastest-growing US export markets. Major US exports to China include power generation equipment, electrical machinery, fertilizer, and medical equipment.