Bloomberg reported, quoting unnamed source, that CHina is considering to buy more coal from the US, as part of the plan to reduce trade surplus. In particular, China could boost purchase from West Virginia.
As in 2017, US coal just contributed a tiny portion of China’s import. 108.9m tons were from Indonesia, 79.9m ton from Australia, 34.0 tons from Monglolia. Only 3.2m tons were from the US. It’s unsure whether China has plan to cut imports from other countries.
If they do, Trump’s American first policy could indirectly hurt its close ally in Australia. That could also drag on the transition from mining boom in latter.