In 2006, the U.S. was the larger trading partner for 127 countries, while China was the larger trading partner for 70, AP reported. By last year, the two had traded places: 124 countries for China, 76 for the U.S.
Adding insult to injury, the change in comparative status encompassed U.S. allies such as Australia and South Korea.
AP made the observations in the first installment of its "China's Reach," a series the news cooperative said would analyze China's influence with its trading partners over three decades, and explore how it is changing business, politics, and daily life.


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