China’s trade surplus with the United States climbed to $29.18 billion in August, up from $28.03 billion in July, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.
The number lands at a politically loaded moment. High-level diplomatic engagements between Washington and Beijing are expected later this month, and a steadily widening surplus tends to make those conversations more interesting for all the wrong reasons.
The bigger picture is even bigger
China’s overall goods trade surplus for August hit $119.09 billion, continuing a streak of monthly surpluses north of $100 billion that has become almost routine.
Exports reached $401.44 billion, a 25.0% jump compared to the same month last year. Imports grew even faster in percentage terms, rising 28.2% to $282.36 billion, but the gap between the two kept widening in absolute dollar terms.
