Trade flows skirt snags in Sino-US ties

Busy ports attest to reports of bumper shipments despite political strains

Looking at the latest China-US trade figures, fueled by voracious consumer demand, it would be hard to tell the two countries have been involved in a trade standoff for over three years.

"We said during the trade war the global economy would continue to grow and prosper, and it has. China was, and remains, our largest trading partner, accounting for about 60 percent of containerized imports and 30 percent of exports in 2020," said Noel Hacegaba, deputy executive director of the Port of Long Beach in Southern California.

"Strong consumer demand that surfaced in the early months of the pandemic has continued, and the amount of cargo our terminals and dockworkers have been moving is incredible."