It is probable that China will take over Canada this year to be the largest trading partner of the United States, said former US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky at a trade negotiation recently.

　　Continued investment from the US in factories in China over the recent years led to an explosive expansion of Sino-US trade.

　　In 2003, China surpassed Mexico to be the second exporter to the US.

　　Last year, the US imported from Canada US$256 billion of goods, mostly automobile, mineral ore and fuel, while its US$197-billion imports from China were mainly computer, sports goods and clothes.

　　China is now the third-largest trader in the world, after the US and Germany.

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