New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) Trade relations between the United States and China have plummeted to a mere 2 percent of global trade, a decrease from 2.7 percent in 2024, according to a recent report released on Thursday.

The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 underscores the ongoing decoupling between these two economic giants, even amid robust globalisation.

Produced by DHL in collaboration with New York University Stern School of Business, the report reveals that global economic connections remain resilient despite escalating geopolitical frictions, tariffs, and uncertainties surrounding international trade policies.

Historically, trade between the United States and China peaked at 3.6 percent of world trade in 2015.

However, this figure has consistently declined, falling to 2.7 percent in 2024, and further down to approximately 2 percent during the initial three quarters of 2025.

Investment across borders between the two nations is even more diminished, representing less than 1 percent of global investment flows.

Despite the weakening relationships between Washington and Beijing, the report asserts that globalisation remains stable.

As of 2025, the worldwide level of connectedness is about 25 percent, matching the all-time high seen in 2022.

This index evaluates international movements of trade, capital, information, and people on a range from 0 to 100.

John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, highlighted that the findings indicate nations and businesses are striving to maintain international relationships even in uncertain times.

He emphasized that significant global challenges—such as poverty and climate change—demand cooperation and global cooperation.

The report also indicates that global trade saw faster growth in 2025 than in any year since 2017, excluding the unusual variations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This surge was primarily driven by a rise in shipments in anticipation of imminent tariff increases in the United States and a burgeoning demand for products related to artificial intelligence.

The World Trade Organisation reported that AI-linked goods constituted around 42 percent of the increase in global goods trade during the first three quarters of 2025.

Looking forward, the report anticipates continued growth in global trade, albeit at a moderate rate.

Goods trade is expected to expand at an average annual rate of approximately 2.6 percent through 2029, aligning broadly with trends over the past decade.

Steven A. Altman, director of the DHL Initiative on Globalisation at NYU Stern, noted that the political discourse surrounding globalisation often seems more dramatic than the actual shifts in global business flows.