China notches historic $1.2 trillion trade surplus, up 20% despite Trump tariffs
CNN • • business
Key Points:
- China recorded a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025, a 20% increase from 2024, by shifting exports from the US to emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America amid US trade pressures.
- Trade with the US fell 16.9% in the first 11 months of 2025, but exports of high-tech goods and green technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels grew significantly.
- Chinese officials view the strong trade performance as a sign of economic resilience despite the ongoing US-China trade war, which led to a tariff truce in October 2025.
- The growing trade surplus has heightened global concerns about unfair trade practices and the impact of low-cost Chinese imports on
