China’s exports climbed at the fastest pace in six months in September, while imports logged their strongest gain in more than a year, even as a trade deal with the U.S. remains elusive.
Exports grew 8.3% in September in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, China’s customs data showed Monday, beating Reuters-polled economists’ estimates for a 7.1% rise and rebounding from August’s six-month low.
Imports jumped 7.4% last month from a year ago, sharply beating Reuters’ estimates for a 1.5% growth, marking the strongest level since April 2024, according to LSEG data.
Tensions between Beijing and Washington have flared again in recent days as both sides traded barbs and ramped up respective restrictions, threatening to erode progress made after several rounds of bilateral trade talks this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened an additional 100% levy on Chinese exports and tighter export controls on critical software. Beijing, meanwhile, expanded restrictions on rare earth exports — though some don’t take effect until November — and broadened its “unreliable entities” blacklist to include chip consulting firm TechInsights. Authorities have also opened a fresh antitrust probe into U.S. semiconductor manufacturing giant Qualcomm
