The United States imports a staggering $3.35 trillion worth of goods annually, making it the world’s largest importer. These imports touch every aspect of American life – from the cars we drive and phones we use to the clothes we wear and food we eat.

Understanding these trade relationships helps explain price fluctuations in consumer goods, employment patterns in various industries, and even international political dynamics that affect your everyday purchases.

America’s Top Imports (2024)

Here, we break down exactly which countries supply America with its essential goods and what specific products they provide. You’ll discover how Mexico recently overtook China as America’s top import source, how Canada supplies much of our energy needs, and why countries like Ireland specialize in pharmaceuticals while Vietnam focuses on textiles and electronics.

Rank	Import Category	Value (USD)	% of Total Imports	Year-over-Year Change
1	Machinery including Computers	$531.2 billion	15.8%	+15.7%
2	Electrical Machinery & Equipment	$485.9 billion	14.5%	+8.9%
3	Vehicles & Automotive	$391.5 billion	11.7%	+4.3%
4	Mineral Fuels & Oil	$251.1 billion	7.5%	-5.8%
5	Pharmaceutical Products	$212.7 billion	6.3%	+19.6%
6	Commodities Not Elsewhere Specified	$128.0 billion	3.8%	N/A
7	Optical, Medical & Surgical Instruments	$124.0 billion	3.7%	+9.4%
8	Precious Stones & Metals	$89.7 billion	2.7%	+49.1%
9	Plastics & Articles Thereof	$78.2 billion	2.3%	+8.1%
10	Furniture, Bedding & Mattresses	$72.6 billion	2.2%	N/A

Top Subcategories by Major Import

Dive beneath the surface of America’s trillion-dollar import economy, and you’ll discover fascinating specialized product categories that tell a deeper story about global trade. While broad import categories like “machinery” or “vehicles” provide a general picture, examining the specific subcategories reveals precisely what American businesses and consumers truly depend on from foreign suppliers.

1- Machinery including Computers

• Computers & optical readers: $141.4 billion (+35.8%)
• Computer parts & accessories: $54.8 billion (+69.0%)

2- Electrical Machinery & Equipment

• Phone devices including smartphones: $115.1 billion (-2.8%)
• Integrated circuits & microassemblies: $40.4 billion (+12.0%)
• Electric storage batteries: $32.4 billion (+8.9%)

3- Capital Goods Highlights

• Computer accessories: +$33.5 billion
• Computers: +$28.3 billion
• Semiconductors: +$9.4 billion
• Industrial machinery: +$9.0 billion

4- Consumer Goods Highlights

• Pharmaceutical preparations: +$43.6 billion
• Passenger cars: +$10.0 billion
• Automotive parts & accessories: +$4.8 billion

Top 10 U.S. Biggest Import Countries

• The top three import partners (Mexico, China, and Canada) account for 41.6% of all US imports
• Top 10 import partners represent 68.5% of total US imports
• In 2024, Mexico overtook China as the largest import partner
• Major regional representation includes North America, Asia, and Europe
• The United States’ total imports reached $3.35 trillion in 2024, up 6% from 2023

Rank	Country	Import Value	Percentage of Total US Imports
1	Mexico	$509.98 billion	15.2%
2	China	$462.63 billion	13.8%
3	Canada	$422.17 billion	12.6%
4	Germany	$163.54 billion	4.9%
5	Japan	$152.06 billion	4.5%
6	Vietnam	$142.47 billion	4.2%
7	South Korea	$135.46 billion	4.0%
8	Taiwan	$118.73 billion	3.5%
9	Ireland	$103.75 billion	3.1%
10	India	$91.23 billion	2.7%

Mexico, China, and Canada dominate US imports in 2024. These three countries supply 41.6% of all goods entering the United States, with Mexico leading at 15.2%, followed by China at 13.8%, and Canada at 12.6%.

Looking at Europe, Germany stands as America’s 4th largest import source, providing 4.9% of US imports, while Ireland contributes 3.1%.
Asian nations play a critical role in the US import market. Beyond China’s significant 13.8% share, Japan supplies 4.5% of US imports, Vietnam 4.2%, South Korea 4.0%, Taiwan 3.5%, and India 2.7%. All these Asian countries rank among America’s top 10 import partners.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports these trading relationships, which affect the global economy substantially. These numbers matter because any changes to tariffs or trade agreements could shift these percentages and impact economies worldwide.

America Top Import List, Latest Update

America’s import relationships reveal critical patterns that affect your daily life and the broader economy. Mexico’s rise to become our top trading partner signals a major shift in global supply chains, as companies move production closer to the United States to avoid disruptions and reduce shipping times. Despite this trend, China continues to dominate in electronics and consumer goods manufacturing, supplying the smartphones, computers, and household items you use every day.

The specialized nature of these trading relationships explains why you find “Made in Vietnam” labels on your clothing but “Made in Germany” on luxury vehicles and medical equipment. These patterns won’t remain static – ongoing trade tensions, technological changes, and environmental concerns will reshape who makes what for the American market in coming years.

Companies must navigate these shifting trade relationships to maintain competitive prices, while policymakers balance protecting domestic industries with ensuring Americans maintain access to affordable goods. When you understand these import patterns, you gain insight into not just global economics, but the invisible networks that deliver products to your home and workplace every day.

FAQ

1. What are America’s top imports by value?
   America’s top imports by value include machinery (including computers and related equipment), electrical equipment, automobiles and auto parts, crude oil and petroleum products, and pharmaceuticals. In 2024, U.S. imports reached a record $3.3 trillion, reflecting the country’s position as one of the world’s largest importers.
2. How dependent is the U.S. on Chinese imports?
   The U.S. remains significantly dependent on Chinese imports, though this has decreased somewhat in recent years. By 2022, the U.S. relied on China for 532 key product categories – nearly four times the level in 2000. However, U.S.-bound exports only accounted for 12.8% of China’s total exports in 2023, down from 19.8% in 2018.
3. Which countries are America’s largest import partners?
   As of 2024, America’s largest import partners were Mexico (15.2%), China (13.8%), and Canada (12.6%), followed by Germany (4.9%) and Japan (4.5%). This represents a shift in trading patterns, with Mexico surpassing China as the top supplier of U.S. imports.
4. What impact have recent tariffs had on U.S. imports from China?
   The recent tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods have caused dramatic decreases in imports, with container bookings from China to the U.S. down by as much as 60% according to some estimates. Many retailers have canceled or delayed orders, leading to concerns about potential supply shortages.
5. Which U.S. states import the most goods?
   California leads as the top state importer of foreign goods, followed by Texas, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Georgia. This reflects their large consumer markets, manufacturing bases, and major ports.
6. Could the U.S. survive without imports if necessary?
   This question often appears in online forums, and the consensus is that while the U.S. has significant resources and manufacturing capacity, complete self-sufficiency would be extremely difficult. Many industries rely on global supply chains for raw materials, components, and finished goods that would be challenging to replace domestically in the short term.
7. What percentage of U.S. food is imported?
   The U.S. imports approximately 15% of its food supply. However, certain categories have much higher import rates: 94% of fresh fish, 55% of fresh fruit, and 32% of fresh vegetables come from other countries, primarily Canada and Mexico.
8. Which consumer products are most dependent on Chinese manufacturing?
   Products most dependent on Chinese manufacturing include toys (with potential holiday season shortages due to tariffs), electronics, apparel (37% of U.S. imports), footwear (58% of U.S. imports), furniture, and certain raw materials like rare earth elements used in high-tech manufacturing.
9. How have U.S. import patterns changed in the last decade?
   U.S. import patterns have diversified, with increasing imports from countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Mexico as companies seek alternatives to Chinese manufacturing. Capital goods imports have grown significantly, reaching $962.4 billion in 2024, reflecting investment in machinery, equipment, and technology.
10. What raw materials does the U.S. primarily import?
    The U.S. imports significant amounts of crude oil (with Canada as the largest supplier), rare earth minerals (with China supplying roughly 72% of U.S. imports), and various metals and minerals needed for manufacturing and technology production.
11. How vulnerable is the U.S. supply chain to disruptions in global trade?
    Recent events have highlighted significant vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent tariff increases have shown that the U.S. can experience shortages when global trade is disrupted, particularly in sectors heavily dependent on imports like electronics, certain pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.
12. What are “rare earth elements” and why are they important to U.S. imports?
    Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metallic elements crucial for high-tech industries, including defense, renewable energy, and electronics. China dominates the global supply chain, providing roughly 72% of U.S. rare earth imports, making this a strategic concern for national security and industrial policy.
13. Is the U.S. trying to reduce dependence on foreign imports?
    Yes, there are significant efforts to “reshore” or “friendshore” manufacturing of critical goods. The CHIPS Act and other initiatives aim to boost domestic production of semiconductors and other strategic products. However, completely reshoring supply chains would be extremely costly and time-consuming.
14. Which imports would be hardest to replace with domestic production?
    According to online discussions, the hardest imports to replace domestically include rare earth minerals, specialized electronics components, certain pharmaceuticals, and labor-intensive consumer goods where U.S. labor costs are significantly higher than offshore manufacturing.
15. How much does the average American household spend on imported goods?
    While exact figures vary, imported goods make up a significant portion of consumer spending in the U.S. Recent tariff increases could cost the average American family hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually if companies pass along these costs to consumers.
16. What happened to U.S. manufacturing jobs as imports increased?
    The increase in imports, particularly following China’s entry into the WTO in 2001, coincided with a significant decline in U.S. manufacturing employment. However, automation and productivity improvements also played major roles in this trend, making it difficult to attribute job losses solely to imports.
17. Are electric vehicles and their components major U.S. imports?
    Yes, electric vehicles and related components, particularly batteries, are becoming increasingly significant imports. Electric storage batteries were among the top imports in 2024, with imports rising 8.9% year-over-year as the EV market continues to grow.
18. How do U.S. importers deal with supply chain disruptions?
    U.S. importers have adopted various strategies to handle disruptions, including diversifying suppliers across multiple countries, increasing inventory levels (“just-in-case” rather than “just-in-time”), nearshoring to Mexico and other closer locations, and in some cases, reshoring production to the United States.
19. What medical supplies does the U.S. primarily import?
    The U.S. imported approximately $115 billion in medical equipment and supplies in 2023, including diagnostic equipment, surgical instruments, pharmaceuticals, and medical consumables. Major suppliers include China, Germany, Mexico, Ireland, and Switzerland.
20. How might current trade policies affect future U.S. import patterns?
    The current trade environment, including high tariffs on Chinese goods, is likely to accelerate the diversification of U.S. import sources. Countries in Southeast Asia, Mexico, and other regions are likely to see increased manufacturing investment as companies seek to avoid tariffs while maintaining access to the U.S. market.