Context. The ratio of trade to GDP -- sometimes referred to as "trade openness" -- is a common metric for how globally integrated a country's economy is. Comparisons between countries are complicated because a country's size and location affects its ratio. We're primarily interested in changes over time, e.g., if China becomes more economically isolated, its trade-to-GDP ratio should decrease.

This question has an analogue that asks about the trade-to-GDP ratio of countries that are a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization whose members share a commitment to democracy and a market economy. The United States is a prominent member of the OECD. You can view the analogue question here.

Data and resolution details. This question resolves based on OECD data. GDP data is from OECD's Quarterly National Accounts database. It's calculated using the expenditure approach and the VNBQR measure: National currency (Yuan Renminbi), constant prices, national base year (2015), quarterly levels. We converted the GDP values to U.S. dollars at the December 31, 2015 exchange rate of 1 U.S. dollar = 6.5138 Chinese Yuan Renminbi. Trade data (imports and exports of goods) is from OECD's International Trade MEI dataset. It's measured in U.S. dollars. 

This question resolves when GDP and trade data are available through June 30, 2021. Based on the historical data release schedule, that will likely be mid-August 2021.

The data underlying the graph is here.

This question is a metric for the following scenarios:

• An Isolated China in a Globalized World
• Three Possible 2025 Worlds that Should Inform Policy Today

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