Trade analysts say the EU could surpass Japan to be China's biggest trading partner in 2004, because of a larger EU and China's continuous efforts to reduce tariffs and open wider trade under its WTO commitments.
Two-way trade reached a record US$125.2 billion in 2003, making the EU China's third largest trading partner. It is very close to the United States' US$126.3 billion. Japan is still the biggest trading partner.
January witnessed a bilateral trade of US$10.9 billion, the latest figure available.
(Information by Network Center of MOFCOM)