China’s exports in January-February 2025 reached a record $540 billion, up 2.3% year-on-year, Bloomberg reports. However, the country’s imports unexpectedly fell by 8.4%, leading to a significant trade surplus of $171 billion.
According to analysts, the growth in exports is partly due to accelerated deliveries as Chinese companies seek to circumvent possible new trade barriers from the United States. The U.S. administration is considering additional tariffs on Chinese goods, which could affect the competitiveness of Chinese products.
China remains the largest exporter in the world, supplying products to a wide range of industries. Among the key export products:
Electronics and technology – smartphones, computers, semiconductors.
Machinery – industrial machines, cars and components.
Consumer goods – clothing, footwear, household appliances.
Metals and chemicals – aluminum, steel, plastics.
Renewable energy – solar panels, lithium-ion batteries.
Services – IT development, digital platforms, logistics.
The drop in imports may indicate weak domestic demand, as well as China’s desire to develop self-sufficiency in strategic industries.
Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China have signed an agreement on the terms of export of Ukrainian aquatic products and peas to China, the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reports.
“The Ministry of Agrarian Policy continues to work on opening new markets and scaling up existing ones. Today we have signed an important agreement with the People’s Republic of China,” Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval said on Telegram.
According to the report, the agreement will allow Ukrainian farmers to gain access to one of the world’s largest markets, expand their presence in China, and support producers, especially in the fisheries and grain sectors. Ukraine will be able to increase exports and foreign exchange earnings, diversify its markets and integrate into global trade chains.
These agreements are the result of a dialogue between our countries and a series of high-level meetings. It was also the result of active cooperation between the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, associations, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine, Ma Shengkun. I am confident that we have laid a solid foundation for expanding cooperation, as the last time such a contract was signed with China was more than 5 years ago,” the Minister summarized.
China will impose additional duties on some imports from the United States, the Customs Duties Committee of the Chinese State Council said Tuesday. Tariffs of 15 percent will be imposed on chicken meat, wheat, corn and cotton, and 10 percent on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
The move comes after the U.S. decided to impose additional 10% duties on goods imported from China starting March 4.
The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States undermines the multilateral trading system, increases the burden on U.S. enterprises and consumers, and damages the foundation of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, the committee said in a statement quoted by Xinhua news agency.
China has also placed 15 U.S. companies on the export control list. They include Leidos, Gibbs&Cox, IP Video Market Info, Shield AI, Group W, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics’ unit General Dynamics Land Systems.
Also included on the list of untrustworthy entities are 10 U.S. companies, which will prohibit them from engaging in China-related imports or exports and making new investments in the country. The names are TCOM, Stick Rudder Enterprises, Teledyne Brown Engineering (a unit of Teledyne Technologies), Huntington Ingalls Industries, S3 AeroDefense, Cubic Corp., TextOre, ACT1 Federal, Exovera and Planate Management Group. Last month, fashion brand owner PVH Corp. and biotech company Illumina Inc. made the list.
On February 10 this year, the first freight train was sent from China to Afghanistan via a new direct rail route connecting the two countries through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The train, carrying 55 containers of communication equipment manufactured by the Chinese telecommunications concern ZTE, departed from Chongqing’s Tuanjetsun station to Afghanistan’s Hairaton.
The train will cross the border at the Khorgos checkpoint in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and reach its destination in Khairaton via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The entire journey is expected to take 12-15 days. “By using the direct rail freight transportation scheme, transportation time will be reduced by 3-5 days compared to road transportation, and logistics costs are expected to be reduced by 15-20%. This will strengthen the safety and efficiency of transportation and supply of goods,” said Liu Jianfeng, a ZTE employee.
The opening of the direct freight route will further strengthen trade and economic cooperation and exchanges between Chongqing and Afghanistan, as well as with other Central Asian countries.
The US imposition of an additional 10 percent duty on imported Chinese goods seriously violates WTO rules and not only fails to solve its own problems, but also disrupts normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Sunday.
“China will file a lawsuit at the WTO against the US for its abusive practices and take appropriate countermeasures to resolutely safeguard its rights and interests,” the statement said.
According to it, China hopes the U.S. side will objectively and rationally consider and solve its own fentanyl and other problems, rather than threatening other countries with tariffs at every turn.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry also issued a statement in connection with the imposition of a 10% duty on imports of Chinese goods, calling on the U.S. to correct its erroneous approach and work with the Chinese side to engage in frank dialog, strengthen cooperation and resolve differences on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that China is one of the countries in the world with the most strict and thorough drug control policies, and fentanyl is America’s problem, and China, in the spirit of humanism, has supported the U.S. in dealing with this problem, being the first country among other countries to put fentanyl-like substances in a separate category.
US President Donald Trump has signed a decree imposing duties on goods from Canada, China and Mexico. The rates for products from Canada and Mexico will be up to 25%, and for Chinese goods – 10%.
Trump explained this decision by the need to combat illegal migration and drug smuggling.
Previously, the US, Canada, and Mexico had a free trade agreement, the USMCA, signed by Trump in his first term in office. The new duties could have a negative impact on the economies of Canada and Mexico, which could lose up to 2% of GDP. For the United States, the consequences will be less severe, with a 0.3% decline in GDP projected.
Canada and Mexico have already expressed disappointment with Washington’s decision. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that Canada would be forced to respond with tough measures. Mexico, which is the largest trading partner of the United States, may also suffer significant losses, as more than 80% of its exports go to the United States.
The new duties will also affect German automotive companies such as Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, which use Mexico as a production base for supplies to the US market. Experts fear that Chinese manufacturers, faced with barriers in the US, will increase pressure on European markets, which could lead to price wars.
The United Steelworkers trade union called on the White House to reconsider the decision, emphasizing that the duties harm both Canada and the United States. At the same time, Canada is considering diversifying its trade ties to reduce its dependence on the United States.
Source: https://amp.dw.com/ru/prezident-ssa-vvel-posliny-na-tovary-iz-kanady-kitaa-i-meksiki/a-71484154
