China is determined to dump the US dollar in global trade and is convincing other countries to follow suit. The Communist country is on a world tour, trying to upend trade rules and rewrite policies without incorporating the USD. The Xi Jinping administration has signed many deals in two years where the Chinese yuan plays a central role in cross-border transactions. The intent is to dim the lights on the greenback and make the yuan the sole currency among developing countries.
Has China really succeeded in making emerging economies dump the US dollar and use the Chinese yuan? In this article, we will provide the data where the USD has failed and where the yuan has succeeded. The balanced approach will shed light on which currency is growing and which is stalling in the global financial markets. The world economy is at a pivotal point where developing countries are eager for a change and want to hold the torch of the next generation of finance.
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US Dollar vs Chinese Yuan: Did China Succeed in Its De-Dollarization Ambition?
The answer is no. China has not succeeded in dumping the US dollar, as the greenback still remains king of the markets. However, it has reduced the number of trades in the USD by increasing the usage of the yuan.
Where China Has Made Progress
- Oil & Energy Payments in Yuan – China now pays Russia and Iran in the Chinese yuan instead of the US dollar.
- Cross-Border Transactions – The share of China’s trade settled in yuan reached 30% in 2024, up from less than 2% a decade ago.
- Belt & Road Projects – Several BRI loans were disbursed in the Chinese yuan to emerging economies, forcing them to transact in the local currency.
- SWIFT Alternative CIPS – China built a new yuan-based Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) as a counter to the Western-backed SWIFT.
Also Read: JP Morgan Sees US Dollar Crisis Ahead, Warns Investors to Hedge
Where the US Dollar Still Dominates
1. Investment & Safe Haven: The yuan isn’t widely trusted as a safe reserve currency like the dollar.
2. Global Reserves: The US dollar still makes up 58% of global foreign exchange reserves, while the yuan is only 3%.
3. International Settlements: Over 80% of all global trade is still cleared in the US dollar, and the numbers are rarely dipping.