China Posts Record Trade Surplus despite Rising US Pressure

China recorded a historic trade surplus in 2025, surpassing the $1 trillion mark for the first time, underscoring the resilience of its export sector despite intensifying trade pressure from the United States under President Donald Trump.

According to data cited by Bloomberg, China’s trade surplus reached approximately $1.2 trillion in 2025, representing a 20% year-on-year increase compared with $993 billion in 2024. The milestone was driven by stronger-than-expected export growth toward the end of the year, which offset a sharp decline in shipments to the U.S. market.

The figures highlight a striking paradox in global trade dynamics. While Chinese exports to the United States fell markedly due to new restrictions and tariffs imposed by Washington, overall exports remained robust as manufacturers redirected goods to other markets across Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and parts of Europe.

Analysts say the data reflects China’s growing ability to diversify its trade partners and reduce reliance on a single market, even as geopolitical tensions with the U.S. deepen. “The record surplus suggests that external pressure has not fundamentally weakened China’s export machine,” one economist noted, pointing to expanding demand from emerging economies and China’s continued dominance in manufacturing supply chains.

The Trump administration’s measures, aimed at curbing Chinese imports and reshoring American production, have significantly reduced bilateral trade flows. However, they have so far failed to dent China’s overall trade balance, raising questions about the effectiveness of unilateral trade restrictions in an increasingly multipolar global economy.

At the same time, the ballooning surplus is likely to intensify scrutiny from trade partners, who have long accused Beijing of relying excessively on exports to drive growth. Concerns are also mounting that China’s widening surplus could fuel further trade disputes, particularly with economies struggling to protect domestic industries from cheaper imports.

For Beijing, the figures provide a welcome boost amid a challenging economic environment marked by weak domestic demand and ongoing property sector stress. Officials have repeatedly stressed the need to stabilize foreign trade as a pillar of growth, and the 2025 numbers suggest that strategy has so far paid off.