China’s Export And Import Activity Rebounds In June As Trump's Tariff Deadline Nears

The figures suggested a short-term recovery in trade activity following a slower performance in May, when export growth dipped to 4.8 per cent after strong results in March and April.

China’s trade surplus widened to $114.7 billion in June, up from $103.22 billion the previous month, driven by stronger exports.

Source : Freepik

China’s trade performance showed signs of resilience in June, with both exports and imports recording modest gains ahead of a critical August deadline for concluding trade negotiations with the United States. The improved figures come as exporters accelerate shipments under the current temporary trade truce between Beijing and Washington.

According to official data released on July 14, outbound shipments rose by 5.8 per cent year-on-year, reported Reuters. Imports also reversed their previous decline, climbing by 1.1 per cent after falling 3.4 per cent in May.

These figures suggested a short-term recovery in trade activity following a slower performance in May, when export growth dipped to 4.8 per cent after strong results in March and April. The earlier surge had been driven largely by front-loading strategies in anticipation of rising tariffs, but those effects appeared to have faded by late spring.

Fragile Truce and Widening Global Trade Pressures

Trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies appeared to stabilise briefly in June, following renewed discussions in Geneva that helped re-establish a tentative ceasefire. However, uncertainties persist. US President Donald Trump’s broader global tariff strategy continues to pose indirect risks to Chinese exporters.

A recent decision by the US to impose a 40 per cent tariff on goods transhipped through Vietnam—a common rerouting hub for Chinese products—could hamper efforts by Chinese manufacturers to sidestep direct duties. Moreover, Trump’s warning of a potential 10 per cent levy on imports from BRICS countries, including China, adds further pressure.

Trade Surplus Hits $114.7 Billion as EU Tensions Grow

China’s trade surplus widened to $114.7 billion in June, up from $103.22 billion the previous month, driven by stronger exports. Yet, external pressures are mounting beyond the US.

Relations with the European Union have grown more strained in recent weeks, with Brussels accusing Beijing of oversupplying the global market and indirectly supporting Russia’s economy. These criticisms come just ahead of a major EU-China summit scheduled later this month.

With an August 12 deadline set for resolving trade tensions with the White House, China faces growing urgency to secure a stable agreement amid a complicated and shifting global trade landscape.