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Chinese exports surged in April despite ongoing trade tensions with the United States, official data showed Friday, even as shipments to the U.S. market recorded a steep monthly decline.
While overall exports grew by 8.1% year-over-year—far surpassing the 2% growth projected in a Bloomberg survey—shipments to the U.S. fell by 17.6% month-on-month due to American tariffs of up to 145%.
These figures come just ahead of scheduled talks in Geneva over the weekend between officials from the world’s two largest economies, marking the first high-level engagement since the onset of the current tariff dispute in April.
The Chinese customs data also pointed to a notable rise in exports to regional partners. Shipments to Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam rose by double digits, reflecting a broader shift in global supply chains as exporters seek to mitigate the effects of U.S. tariffs.
On the import side, China reported a 0.2% year-over-year decline in April, a smaller drop than the 6% contraction forecast by analysts, indicating relatively resilient domestic demand.
In response to persistent economic headwinds, Chinese authorities have introduced a new round of monetary easing measures, including interest rate cuts and reductions in banks’ reserve requirements, to stimulate activity. Additional steps have also been taken to support the struggling property sector, a major contributor to past economic growth.
While U.S. officials have expressed hopes that upcoming discussions may ease trade tensions, tariffs on Chinese goods remain in place, and uncertainty continues to cast a shadow over global trade dynamics.
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