Customs data show imports up 28.2% and a $29.18 billion surplus with the U.S., with reciprocal tariff talks still exploratory.
Global • Economy • Trade
China’s General Administration of Customs reported August goods exports rose 25.0% year over year in U.S. dollar terms, with imports up 28.2%. The monthly trade surplus widened to $119.09 billion from $112.5 billion in July. In yuan terms, August exports rose 18.6% and imports 21.7%.
The U.S. bilateral surplus stood at $29.18 billion, with Chinese exports to the United States up 34.4% year over year. Semiconductor export values more than doubled in January-August while volumes rose only 4.1%. Auto exports were up 43% in August; crude oil import volumes fell 23.4% year over year.
Beijing and Washington are exploring reciprocal tariff cuts on about $30 billion of goods each side ahead of a late-September summit. Markets barely moved on the print, with the yuan flat and equities slightly higher as traders watched U.S. inflation and the Fed.
Sources: GACC via Reuters and AP, Sep. 8, 2026.
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