China replaces United States as Japan's top trade partner

[bemildred]

For the first time since the end of World War II, Japan has a new leading trading partner.

China dethroned the United States in 2004 largely as a result of burgeoning production by Japanese companies in China, data released Wednesday showed.

Two-way trade with China and Hong Kong amounted to 22.2 trillion yen, accounting for 20.1 percent of Japan's overall trade in 2004, according to a preliminary report of Finance Ministry trade statistics.

Trade with the United States came to 20.48 trillion yen, representing 18.6 percent of total trade, down from 20.5 percent in 2003.


asahi.com

[Benhurst]

1. The New American Century: R.I. P. NT

[jjtss]

2. Watch for a dollar crisis this summer

[bemildred]

4. It won't be that long. nt

[nine23]

3. China is Canada's second largest trading partner...

...after the US, representing 18.0 percent of our overall trade in 2004.

Now, I realize most of this is global economic forces at work, but I can't help but think if GWB had the basic reading skills to make it through that old Dale Carnegie book, things would be a little different.

Instead, we're starting to re-think the whole enchalada...