Washington ? Despite its latest public pushback, China is expected to soon let its currency rise against the dollar, a long-sought goal of U.S. manufacturers.

For the U.S., that shift could boost exports and potentially raise the prices of imported Chinese goods. The undervalued Chinese currency has made Chinese goods cheaper for American consumers. But it’s hurt U.S. companies by making their products costlier in China.

Still, any changes will likely be slow, economists say. Don’t expect to see higher prices on store shelves or large jumps in U.S. exports anytime soon. The U.S. economy won’t benefit much in the short run.

A gradual increase in the value of China’s currency, the yuan, would be “a move in the right direction,” said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Global Insight. “But it won’t be a big boost to the recovery.”