Although other economies have had success utilizing an export-led growth strategy, such success in a country of China’s size is unprecedented. In 2009, China became the largest global exporter and in 2010 passed Japan as the second largest economy in the world.1 How was China able to accomplish this goal? In this paper, we use finely detailed trade data to differentiate amongst the various reasons given for China’s rapid growth of exports. The reasons for China’s success also shed light on the effects China’s export boom have had on the manufacturing sectors of other countries.