A trade war between the United States and China could boost Australia's exports, local economists predict.

China is likely to retaliate to any trade barriers imposed by the Trump administration by switching supply of US products, including meat, coal and agricultural items, to other sources including Australia.

China may retaliate in a trade war with the United States by switching its purchase of US goods to those from other countries, including Australia. Credit:AP

"Of any Western nation in the world, we may be the best placed," former Austrade chief economist Tim Harcourt, a fellow at the UNSW Australia business school, said.

Comments by US President Donald Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer that the US was considering a 20 per cent tariff on imports from the US' third largest trading partner Mexico have sharpened focus on Mr Trump's election pledge to hit imports from its second-largest trading partner, China, with high tariffs.