China still export huge amounts to the US

Five charts to start the day

When Washington slapped new tariffs on Chinese imports, it did not affect all goods equally. Some items are easier to source elsewhere, like cotton cardigans. Others, like Christmas decorations, are near-monopolised by Chinese factories – they hold an 80 percent export share. The result is that China still exports a huge amount to the US.

Any product complicated to make, for instance advanced chemicals or electronics, can be hardest to reroute. That is because alternative suppliers might not exist in large volumes outside China. So Americans end up paying more if these goods are hit by tariffs.