Fear of trade exchanging goods between China and the United States

(awp / sda / dpa) The fear of an impending trade war has boosted trade between China and the United States. According to experts, the fact that exporters rushed to export their goods before the punitive tariff entered into force is one of the reasons for the sharp increase in trade between the two largest economies in the first quarter. semester of the year ($ 30.1 billion). China's exports to the United States in dollars rose 13.6 percent, Chinese customs said in Beijing on Friday. Imports from the United States to China increased by 11.8%.

The US trade deficit continued to grow despite Donald Trump's noisy resistance. The US trade deficit with China reached $ 28.97 billion in June, the highest level in almost two decades. China's exports to the United States reached a record $ 42 billion a month, while the United States exported only $ 13.6 billion to China.

"One of the reasons for this increase is the fact that the exporters wanted to anticipate the new tariffs," said economics professor Hu Xingdou. "However, I do not believe that the recent tariffs punitive will affect too much imports and exports in July and August. "

A week ago, US special taxes of 25% on imports from the People's Republic worth $ 34 Billion came into force. also announced that it would impose punitive duties of 10% on Chinese imports worth $ 200 billion in a few weeks, the agreement could become clear. be slowed down. Trump even threatens to d & # 39; 39, imposing special taxes on all Chinese imports totaling $ 505 billion.

"Customs duties on $ 500 billion of goods would rather affect the Chinese economy," said Professor Hu Xingdou. China has already announced "necessary countermeasures" of the same amount – but the United States does not export so much to China that other retaliatory measures are possible

Chinese foreign trade has increased 16% since the beginning of the year. For the month of June alone, however, the most was only 12.5%, down 2.1% from the previous month. Chinese imports rose 19.9% ​​in the first half compared to the previous year, while exports increased 12.8%.