According to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), China has surpassed the United States to become the world’s number one exporter of information technology products in 2004.
The OECD reported that China exported information technology goods worth approximately $180 billion in 2004, while the United States exported only $149 billion. In 2003, China’s IT exports were $123 billion, compared to $149 billion for the U.S. The majority of IT products that China exports include mobile phones, laptops, and digital cameras.
The OECD report also indicated that the U.S. is currently importing more information technology products from China than from any other country. In 2004, China accounted for 27% of total U.S. IT imports, a 10% increase since 2000.
However, the total global trade volume of the U.S., including both exports and imports, remains higher than that of China. The total global trade volume for the U.S. in 2004 was approximately $375 billion, while China’s was only $329 billion. The corresponding figures for 2003 were $301 billion for the U.S. and $234 billion for China.
The OECD also pointed out a trend where Asian countries are shifting towards importing goods from China instead of from the U.S. and Europe.
THIEN TRANG
