American exports to China soared 341% from 2000 - 2008, according to the US-China Business Council. In fact, China is the third largest U.S. export market, behind Canada and Mexico.
Spearheading the charge is sunny California, the largest American exporter to China by state.
No surprise, right? California's right on the Pacific coast and filled with innovative companies.
Well sort of.
While Computers and Electronics are indeed California's top export to the giant nation, the sad truth is that 'Waste and Scrap' are the Golden State's second largest export to China. California sends about as much junk to China as both Machinery and Transportation Equipment combined.
The rest of the U.S. isn't doing that much better either. As a nation, 'Waste and Scrap' is America's fifth largest export to China, at a whopping $7.6bn.
We might need to rethink what "Made in The U.S.A" exactly means to the Chinese.