China's exports and imports picked up in July, helped by the pause in Trump's higher tariffs

BANGKOK -- China's exports surged 7.2% in July from a year earlier while its imports grew at the fastest pace in a year, as businesses rushed to take advantage of a truce in President Donald Trump’ s trade war with Beijing.However, analysts said the improvement also reflected a low base for comparison in July 2024.

Exports to the United States sank nearly 22% year-on-year, while imports from America fell almost 19%.But exports to Africa and Southeast Asia surged at double-digit rates as Chinese businesses diverted sales to other markets.

Tariffs on Chinese goods are being considered separately from the new higher tariffs that took effect on Thursday for dozens of U.S.trading partners.

China’s global trade surplus for 2025 rose to $683.5 billion by the end of July, nearly a third higher than the surplus for the same period last year.The data showed that China’s surplus in July was $98.2 billion, while its exports to the United States were $23.7 billion than its imports of U.S.

goods.U.S.imports from China are subject to tariffs of at least 30%, with some products facing much higher import duties.

Trump earlier had ordered still higher rates of up to 245%, and Beijing responded in kind, but the two sides agreed to pause those to allow time for trade talks.It's unclear if the truce will be extended beyond an Aug.

12 deadline following the latest round of negotiations last week in Sweden.The Trump administration has also raised tariffs on imports from countries other than China that it suspects of being “transshipped" via other countries.

For example, the import duty on Vietnam's exports to the U.S.now stands at 20%.

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