China’s trade surplus with US soars 19.4% in Q1

Beijing (AFP) – China’s trade surplus with the United States surged 19.4 percent on-year in the first quarter, data showed Friday, as trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies simmer.

The surplus reached $58 billion in January-March, customs bureau spokesman Huang Songping said at a briefing in Beijing. Exports to the US rose 14.8 percent on-year, while imports grew 8.9 percent.