China's exports see rise in March amid tariff tensions with U.S.
(MENAFN) In March, China experienced a significant boost in exports as businesses hurried to dispatch goods in anticipation of impending tariff increases from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to data released on Monday.
The General Administration of Customs reported that exports rose by 12.4% year-on-year in March, reaching a total of $313.9 billion. This figure greatly exceeded market expectations, which had predicted a more modest increase of 4.4%.
Conversely, imports saw a decline of 2.3% compared to the same month last year, totaling $211.3 billion. This resulted in a foreign trade surplus of $102.6 billion for March. In the first two months of 2025, China's exports had grown by 2.3%, while imports had dropped by 8.4% year-on-year.
On April 2nd, President Trump announced a set of new "reciprocal" tariffs affecting imports from more than 180 countries, with rates ranging from 10% to 50%. While the administration subsequently declared a 90-day postponement for most countries, China was not included in this delay. Consequently, tariffs on Chinese products surged to 125%, on top of an already imposed 20% tax. In response, China raised its tariff on U.S. imports to 125%.
In a development that adds to ongoing trade tensions, the U.S. revealed on Saturday that specific technology items, including smartphones and computers, would be exempt from reciprocal tariffs imposed on several nations, notably China.
Nevertheless, on Sunday, President Trump responded to the recent announcement, asserting that his administration had not formally approved these exemptions. This statement has created ambiguity surrounding the exclusion of consumer electronics from the broad tariff regulations.
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