China Shatters Trade Surplus Record at $1 Trillion in 2025 Despite US Tariffs Under Trump Administration
26 January 2026

China Shatters Trade Surplus Record at $1 Trillion in 2025 Despite US Tariffs Under Trump Administration

China Tariff News and Tracker

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China's trade surplus shattered records in 2025, hitting $1 trillion for the first 11 months despite fierce U.S. tariffs under President Trump, according to the General Administration of Customs of China as reported by International Banker. Exports soared to $3.4 trillion while imports dipped to $2.3 trillion, with November exports jumping 5.9% year-on-year even as shipments to the U.S. declined for eight straight months.

Trump initially imposed a staggering 145% tariff rate on Chinese imports, but dialed it back after his late October meeting with President Xi Jinping in South Korea, easing tensions on key items like semiconductors while China relaxed rare earth controls, notes International Banker citing Capital Economics and ING Bank. Still, the U.S. effective tariff rate on China climbed to 11.2% in 2025—the highest since 1943—per the Economist Intelligence Unit as covered by economy.ac.

Trump's tariff push extends beyond China, with his administration slapping 25% duties on Canada and Mexico, plus an extra 10% on Chinese goods, and eliminating de minimis shipping loopholes from China, reports Maritime Fair Trade. Tensions escalated as Trump warned of 100% tariffs on all Canadian products if Ottawa inks a deal with Beijing, deepening the U.S.-Canada rift under USMCA rules, according to Global Trade Mag.

China's resilience shines through diversification: ASEAN now outpaces the U.S. and EU as its top trading partner, fueled by booms in electric vehicles—set to export 8 million in 2026—legacy chips up 24.7%, and rare earth dominance, International Banker details. A weakening renminbi, undervalued by up to 30% against the euro, supercharges competitiveness, says Rhodium Group's Daniel Rosen.

Yet challenges loom. USTR's Section 301 review in December 2025 signals higher tariffs effective January 2027, per Taxis Easia, and Supply Chain Brain warns U.S. importers shouldn't expect relief in 2026. Economists like Morgan Stanley predict China's global export share rising to 16.5% by 2030 amid ongoing trade wars.

Listeners, tune in next time for the latest on this escalating battle.

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