Chinese exporters rush to beat tariffs deadline

Trade barrier: The US flag flies over Chinese shipping containers that were unloaded at the Port of Long Beach, in Los Angeles County. China’s exports have grown robustly all year, propped up by strong global demand and the difficulty of quickly shifting supply chains even as trade tensions with Washington deepen. — AFP

HONG KONG: China’s export growth accelerated in October as companies rushed to make shipments before President Donald Trump’s plans to increase tariff rates kick in.

Exports in dollar terms rose 15.6% in October from a year earlier, exceeding economists’ estimates for 11.7%. Imports surged 21.4 %, topping forecasts for 14.5%. The trade surplus widened to US$34bil.