China May exports back to growth

Exports rose 15.3 percent in September compared with a year ago, the General Administration of Customs said, beating a median forecast in a Reuters poll for a rise of 11.8 percent.(Reuters file pic shows containers being transported at Nansha port in Guangzhou, Guangdong province )

BEIJING: China’s exports unexpectedly returned to growth in May despite higher US tariffs, but imports fell in a further sign of weak domestic demand that could prompt Beijing to step up stimulus measures.

Some analysts suspected Chinese exporters may have rushed out US-bound shipments to avoid new tariffs on US$300bil of goods that US President Donald Trump is threatening to impose in a rapidly escalating trade dispute.