Forget the 1970s or the 2000s. The first official trade between the young United States and China actually kicked off in 1784. Yes, that’s just one year after the American Revolution officially ended! Imagine that—the U.S. was still figuring out its own government, and a ship full of ginseng, furs, and Spanish silver was already sailing for Canton.
That ship was the Empress of China. Think of it as a startup gamble on a global scale. The crew was basically asking, “Hey, China, you want some American roots and animal pelts?”
What Did They Even Trade Back Then?
The early trade was a bizarre swap meet. Americans brought things like sea otter pelts (very popular in China for hats) and ginseng (a root used in traditional medicine). In return, they got tea (a huge deal), silk, porcelain, and fancy spices. It was a total win for Americans who were tired of British tea taxes.
But here’s the funny part: China didn’t really need anything from the U.S. at first. The Chinese Emperor famously wrote to George Washington calling American goods “curiosities.” It was like trading a rare Pokémon card for a crate of fine wine—cool, but not essential.
