Since the rapprochement in 1972, U.S. -China trade has been growing by leaps and bounds. Two-way trade rose from $96 million in 1972 to $5.5 billion in 1981. Over a span of ten years, the United States is reported to have accumulated a $10 billion trade surplus over China.>sup>1>/sup> In view of past developments and prospects for the future, the trade potential between the two countries is great.