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Tue, 10 Mar 2026

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 China exports surge despite Trump tariffs

Official data shows shipments rose by 20% this year with growth in European and other Asia markets.

* China's exports surged by over 20% in January and February, beating economists' predictions.
* This growth puts China on track to break its record annual trade surplus set in 2025.
* The country is heavily reliant on exports due to weak domestic spending, a shrinking population, and property market crisis.
* Exports were boosted by strong demand for electronics and agricultural/ manufactured goods.
* Trade with European countries grew 27.8%, while Asean countries saw a nearly 30% increase in exports.
* Exports to the US fell over 10% due to Trump's tariffs and measures to address trade imbalances.
* China has set an annual economic growth target of 4.5-5%, down from its previous goal of 5%.
* The meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping is expected to happen in early April, amidst global concerns about the impact of US-Israeli war with Iran on energy markets.