China's trade surpluses are narrowing, but not with the United States.

BEIJING – China's total trade surplus declined in August despite a growing imbalance with the United States, while the country was facing the threat of an increase in tariffs on the part of the United States. Trump administration.

China reported a total trade surplus of $ 27.91 billion in August, after posting a surplus of $ 28.05 billion a month earlier, according to customs data. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal were expecting a $ 30.6 billion surplus.

Exports rose 9.8% over the previous year, after rising 12.2% in July, the general administration of customs said Saturday. Economists had forecast an 11% growth in shipments abroad.

Imports increased 20% in August from the previous year, a slowdown from the previous month's 27.3% increase and the median forecast of economists.

China's trade surplus with the United States has however widened from 28.09 billion dollars in July to 31.05 billion dollars in August, according to Wall Street Journal-based calculations. on customs data.

The data came a day after President Trump said that the administration was ready to apply tariffs on an additional $ 267 billion of Chinese products, in addition to the $ 200 billion Chinese product levies that she was preparing.

Customs duties of $ 50 billion on imports from China have already taken effect, which Beijing has matched in dollars per dollar. Trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing failed to identify any visible signs of progress.

According to the US Census Bureau, the third round of duties would bring the total amount of goods subject to levies to more than US $ 505 billion imported from China in 2017.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce did not respond Saturday to requests for comments on proposed US tariffs.

–Lyan Qi