BEIJING: China’s exports beat forecasts in July, as manufacturers made the most of a fragile tariff truce between Beijing and Washington to ship goods, especially to Southeast Asia, ahead of tougher US duties targeting transhipment. Global traders and investors are waiting to see whether the world’s two largest economies can agree on a durable trade deal by Aug. 12 or if global supply chains will again be upended by the return of import levies exceeding 100 percent.

China’s exports beat market forecasts in July as shipments to Europe, Africa and Latin America offset the impact of US tariffs.

Exports climbed 7.2% in July in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, exceeding Reuters-polled economists' estimates of a 5.4% rise.