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China notches historic $1.2 trillion trade surplus, up 20% despite Trump tariffs
China recorded the world's biggest ever trade surplus in 2025, capping off a year in which the world's largest manufacturer defied US trade pressure by ramping up exports to other global markets.
The huge trade surplus – a measure of how much more a country exports than it imports – stood at a record $1.2 trillion, marking a 20% jump from 2024 with Chinese companies deepening their pivot away from US consumers toward emerging markets in south-east Asia, Africa and Latin America.