The Treasury Department in Washington, D.C.
Adam Jeffery | CNBC
As trade tensions with the U.S. intensified, China sold off its Treasury holdings at the fastest pace in about two years during March.
The largest foreign owner of U.S. debt reduced the level by just shy of $20.5 billion, a slight decrease that brought the total holdings down to $1.12 trillion. But the move represents a continued pattern of declines that comes as the two sides have been unable to hammer out a long-term trade agreement and instead have been engaging in a tit-for-tat tariff fight that has escalated in recent days.
In the 12-month period ending March, the latest month for which data is available, China's stockpile of U.S. government notes, bonds and bills fell by $67.2 billion, a 5.6% decline. The total has fallen by some $200 billion since the peak in 2012 and now represents 7% of total U.S. debt outstanding, compared to 12% previously, according to UBS.
The threat of the nation either not buying Treasurys or engaging in outright sales has shaken the bond market before. In addition to any punitive action China might take, it is thought to have reduced its holdings in an effort to defend its currency.
More aggressive actions to cut holdings is considered a nuclear option that could further aggravate ongoing trade negotiations.
The impact, though, of any such moves is unclear.
UBS estimates that if the reduction is gradual, it likely would result in a rise in the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield of at most 0.4 percentage points.
"To the extent that China's Treasury sales could be either the cause or the effect of a more risk-averse global environment, the positive impact on Treasury yields could be smaller than estimated if private investors step up their Treasury purchases," UBS strategist Chirag Mirani and others said in a note to clients.
China's share of total U.S. debt compared to other global government declined to 17.3%, the lowest since June 2006. Japan is still the second-largest holder, with $1.08 trillion, while the UK stepped backed into third place as it increased its level to $317.1 billion.
Foreign government ownership of U.S. debt hit a fresh record of $6.47 trillion, up 4% from a year ago, as the government's total debt continues to swell and now has topped $22 trillion. Foreign residents increased their holdings by $23.9 billion.
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