Only a third of China’s trade surplus was with the United States, and only a third of the U.S. deficit was with China. That makes for tricky math for the president-elect.

China’s trade surplus soared to a record last year, driven by strong exports that boosted the economy but may soon be threatened by the incoming Trump administration.

Donald Trump's second presidential term promises a return to tariffs as he pressures partners and rivals to tackle everything from migration to drug trafficking, while protecting US industries -- in moves that could trigger new trade wars.

Trump has vowed to impose tariffs of as high as 60% on China, as well as lesser ones with the US’ biggest trade partners, threats that could upend global trade and economic growth. A harsher US tariffs regime could push China to seek stronger ties with developing nations: A new study by the Boston Consulting Group suggests that Beijing’s trade with the Global South — home to 62% of the world’s population — could surpass $1.

The return of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States presents a significant challenge for the European Union's trade policy. His threats to raise tariffs on imports from the EU suggest a potential trade war between Brussels and Washington.