As of November 2024, the landscape of U.S. trade continues to be shaped by key international partners. The Trump administration’s recent tariffs, including a 25% levy on imports from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on goods from China, have made international trade and its dynamics even more critical to understand. This shift, coupled with efforts to tackle the flow of fentanyl and precursor chemicals from China, has brought new attention to trade relationships across U.S. states.
A new infographic shared by Visual Capitalist sheds light on the top import partner for each U.S. state, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The map highlights how trade relationships vary dramatically across the country, with Canada, Mexico, and China playing dominant roles.
Canada’s Dominance in the North
Canada stands as the top import partner for 23 U.S. states. As expected, the northern U.S. states have strong trade ties with Canada, which is the primary supplier of grain, livestock, meat, and poultry to the U.S. The trade between the two nations is particularly important for industries in the Midwest and the Northeast.
Top Import Partners and Their Share of State Imports:
- Alabama: Mexico (17% of imports, $6B)
- Arkansas: Canada (14% of imports, $1B)
- Colorado: Canada (33% of imports, $5B)
- Illinois: Canada (29% of imports, $58B)
- Maine: Canada (65% of imports, $3B)
Mexico’s Role in the Southern U.S.
Mexico is the top import partner for 10 U.S. states, particularly in the South. As the largest supplier of fruits and vegetables to the U.S., Mexico’s influence extends into agriculture, oil, petroleum products, and machinery. Forty percent of Texas’s imports come from Mexico, underscoring the deep trade ties between the two neighbors.
Top Import Partners for Southern States:
- Alabama: Mexico (17% of imports, $6B)
- Arizona: Mexico (28% of imports, $11B)
- Texas: Mexico (40% of imports, $100B)
China: A Leading Trade Partner on the West and East Coasts
China remains the top trade partner for nine U.S. states, including economic giants like California and Florida. China is especially important to California, where about a quarter of the state’s imports come from China, amounting to $113 billion annually. In Florida, China is also a major source of goods, particularly electronics and industrial machinery.
Key States Relying on Chinese Imports:
- California: China (25% of imports, $113B)
- Florida: China (11% of imports, $12B)
- Georgia: China (12% of imports, $16B)
These statistics reveal that while trade with Canada and Mexico remains robust, China continues to play a pivotal role in U.S. imports, especially in technology and manufacturing.
The Shift in U.S. Trade Relationships
The dynamics of global trade and shifting political policies highlight the importance of understanding which countries each U.S. state imports from. This visualization by Visual Capitalist provides a clear picture of how local economies are linked to global supply chains, with Mexico, Canada, and China playing key roles in the ongoing flow of goods to the United States.
