1、 www.crs.gov | 7-5700 November 24, 2014 U.S.-China Trade Issues Background The U.S.-China trade and economic relationship has expanded significantly over the past three decades, especially since Chinas entrance into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. China is currently the United States thi
2、rd largest export market and biggest source of imports, making it the second largest overall U.S. trading partner. In 2013, U.S. exports to China amounted to $122 billion while U.S. imports from China were $440 billion. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, cumulative Chinese foreign di
3、rect investment (FDI) in the United States by the end of 2013 was $8.1 billion, while cumulative U.S. FDI in China was $61.5 billion. China also is the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury securities ($1.3 trillion as of September 2014), which helps keep U.S. interest rates low. However, tension
4、between the two countries has risen in recent years over a number of issues. Key U.S. Issues Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Cybersecurity. U.S. firms cite the lack of effective protection of IPR as one of the biggest impediments that they face in conducting business in China and sometimes vi
