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.

(Agencies)

surpass : be or do something to a greater degree（超越，勝過）