China’s exports accelerate in March while import growth moderates
China’s export growth accelerated in March in a positive sign for global demand, though import growth cooled.
Exports rose 16.4 per cent from a year earlier to US$180.6 billion, up from 4 per cent growth in the first two months of the year, according to customs data released on Thursday. Imports rose 20.3 per cent to US$156.6 billion, down growth in January-February of 26.4 per cent.
The unexpectedly strong exports are a positive sign for Chinese leaders who want to avert job losses in trade-related industries while they try to nurture consumer-driven economic growth.
China’s politically sensitive global trade surplus contracted 20 per cent from a year earlier to US$23.9 billion.
The trade surplus with the United States was US$17.7 billion and the gap with Europe was US$7.7 billion.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump removed a potential threat to Chinese export performance when he said he won’t label Beijing a currency manipulator. The announcement represented a reverse from Trump’s campaign promise to issue such a declaration, which would open the way to possible sanctions.
“They’re not currency manipulators,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal. He said a US declaration that China manipulated the exchange rate of its yuan to gain a trade advantage could jeopardise talks with China on North Korea.
It is rare for American leaders to link trade or currency disputes to broader international security efforts against countries such as North Korea.
Asked whether his currency decision was part of an agreement over North Korea, Trump responded: “We’re going to see. We’re going to see about that.”
