08 May, 2017
BEIJING-China's exports rose for a second straight month in April, as external demand for goods from the world's second-largest economy continued to improve.
China reported Monday that exports in April rose 8.0 percent on-year in dollar terms, while imports rose 11.9 percent - both falling short of expectations.
Yuan-denominated imports rose 18.6 percent y/y in April.
In the first four months of the year, China imported 139.12 million tonnes of crude, up 12.5 percent from the same period a year ago, customs data showed.
That produced a trade balance of +262.3 billion yuan in April. The same poll predicted an 18% gain in imports, following the 20.3% in March.
Meanwhile, China's trade surplus with the United States widened to $21.34 billion in April compared with March's $17.74 billion surplus.
Both countries agreed to a 100-day plan for trade talks aimed at boosting US exports and reducing China's trade surplus with the United States.
While the Trump administration did not label China a currency manipulator in the Treasury Department's most recent report on currency manipulation, it has sought other fronts in which to tackle its large trade deficit with Beijing.
The U.S. Commerce Department said last Tuesday it would open investigations into possible dumping and subsidisation of imports of tool chests and cabinets from China and Vietnam.
