Chinese exports swell ahead of US tariffs that will snarl trade

The increase supported the economy in the first quarter, but that boost may dissipate after the US threw global trade into chaos

China’s exports rebounded in March, providing a boost to the economy ahead of the massive tariff hikes imposed against it by the US this month.

Exports in dollar terms rose 12.4% from a year earlier, the customs authority said Monday, well above the 4.6% gain projected by economists. Imports slumped 4.3%, worse than the 2.1% forecast decline. That left a trade surplus of $102.6 billion last month.

The increase supported the economy in the first quarter, but that boost may dissipate after the US threw global trade into chaos. The Trump administration put tariffs of higher than 100% on many Chinese exports, provoking a retaliation by Beijing.

The fallout will likely begin to be felt from this month, with little sign that the US and China are willing to back down and reduce their tariffs. Exports to the US rose 8.8% in March from a year ago, according to Bloomberg calculations, after dropping more than 11% in February.