CHINA EXPORTS RISE AS ITS ECONOMY RECOVERS

China’s exports rose in 2020 despite pressure from the coronavirus and a tariff war with the Trump administration, boosting its politically volatile trade surplus to $ 535 billion. Exports rose 3.6% over 2019 to $ 2.6 trillion, an improvement on the previous year’s 0.5% gain, customs data showed Thursday. Imports edged down 1.1% to just more than $ 2 trillion, but growth was strong in the second half after China became the first major economy to revive after the pandemic. Exports to the United States rose 7.9% over 2019 to $ 45.2 billion despite tariff increases on most Chinese goods by the Trump administration in a feud over technology. Imports of U. S. goods rose 9.8% to $ 13.5 billion.