The economic relationship between the United States and China consists of a trade side and a financial side. On the trade side, in 2008 China sold $338 billion of goods and services to the U.S., and the U.S. sold $71 billion to China. Thus a net $266 billion of goods and services flowed to the U.S. in 2008. With the U.S. now mired deep in recession, the country's demand for imports has fallen, but it is still a net importer of Chinese goods and services.
The economic relationship between the United States and China consists of a trade side and a financial side. On the trade side, in 2008 China sold $338 billion of goods and services to the U.S., and the U.S. sold $71 billion to China. Thus a net $266 billion of goods and services flowed to the U.S. in 2008. With the U.S. now mired deep in recession, the country's demand for imports has fallen, but it is still a net importer of Chinese goods and services.