The acquisition of Guam in the Spanish-American War affected US trade because it allowed the US to increase trade with China.
The acquisition of Guam took place between the Kingdom of Spain and the United States during the Spanish- American war in 1898. It started as a result of the Spanish violence in Cuba. The war only lasted for 4 months, starting from April 25, 1898 to August 15, 1898.
The small western Pacific island of Guam has been a U.S. territory for over a century and is a strategically important connection between the U.S. and Asia.