In 2020, China became the EU’s top trading partner, with trade worth $709 billion, overtaking the US whose trade with the EU was worth $671 billlion. (Source: BBC News)
According to the Office of National Statistics (O.N.S.) in 2021, China was the UK's largest import partner and sixth-largest export partner for goods.
The UK imported £63.6 billion of goods from China in 2021 (13.3% of all goods imports to the UK).
The UK exported £18.8 billion of goods (5.8% of all goods exports from the UK to China).
The main goods import from China in 2021 were:
machinery and transport equipment (£27.5 billion)
primarily office machinery and telecoms and sound equipment
machinery and transport equipment were also the main goods export (£7.7 billion)
China's influence in Africa
China is Africa’s biggest trading partner with trade of over $200 billion per year. This has been largely through China’s Belt and Road initiative, a global investment strategy aimed at funding infrastructure projects in 150 countries.
China has increased their economic and political influence in the African continent. For example, Chinese companies have been involved in building new train lines in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya, as well as military bases in countries like Djibouti.
China benefits from this initiative by increasing its global economic share. An increase in political support from many African nations within the UN security council and an increase in China’s military capabilities, as it build Chinese bases in many of the African nations.
