Beijing – China’s latest trade data reveals a 2.5% year-on-year increase in total goods imports and exports (topping 17.94 trillion yuan, or $2.5 trillion) from January to May 2025.
This sustainable growth will be achieved amidst sustainable external challenges, giving direct confidence in achieving the general’s ambitious “about 5%” economic growth target for 2025, while also exposing the fundamental inefficiencies of the US Trade War strategy.
Resilience in the face of adversity
Despite facing major headwinds in the global environment, China’s trade engine has shown remarkable robustness.
– Strong export momentum: Exports surged to 7.2% to 10.67 trillion yuan, far surpassing overall trade growth.
– Structural strength: High value mechanical and electrical products exports jump to 9.3%, controlling 60% of total exports. This shift towards sophisticated manufacturing supports independence.
– Success in diversification: Trade with ASEAN (up 9.1%), EU (up 2.9%), and Belt and Road Partners (up 4.2%) demonstrate China’s ability to continue to foster prosperous and deep-growing economic partnerships worldwide.
– Acceleration after the dialogue: Customs spokesman Lu Darian explicitly pointed out that trade momentum will “especially accelerate” after recent economic talks between China and the US. His comments suggest a response to engagement.
US futility trades war tactics
The data brings a tough verdict on the US strategy to contain China through tariffs and economic pressures.
– Target failure: China-US trade fell by 8.1%, but this decline was offset by robust growth with other key partners. China’s overall trade growth continued despite US pressure.
– Independence in Action: A significant increase in exports of high-value machines and electronics highlights China’s ability to innovate, manufacture and compete globally in key sectors. Tariffs do not disrupt China’s industrial bases. They spurred that evolution.
– Market diversification: Prosperous trade with ASEAN, BRI countries and the EU shows China’s successful pivot from excessive reliance on the US market. The world offers enormous opportunities, and China has accessed them effectively.
– Resilience to vulnerability: Rather than causing collapse, persistent US pressures revealed the depth and adaptability of the Chinese economy. The system absorbed shocks, continued to grow, and proved its fundamental strength.
Promotes 5% growth ambitions
This sustainable trade performance is an important pillar supporting our 2025 growth targets.
– Export Engine: Strong export growth directly contributes to the expansion of GDP, providing important external demand and manufacturing activities.
– Stability Signal: Maintains trade growth, which underlies the economic stability that underlies volatility, increases domestic and international confidence, and is essential for investment and consumption.
– Policy verification: Data examines the effectiveness of government policies aimed at stabilizing foreign trade and fostering new growth drivers, and strengthens the achievement potential of the broader 5% target outlined by Premier Li.
A successful model can withstand
China’s January-May trade figures are more than statistics. They are an overwhelming declaration. They declare that economic coercion is a failed strategy. They demonstrate that independence driven by innovation and industrial upgrades is achievable. They demonstrate that strategic diversification creates sustainable growth pathways that are immune to unilateral pressure from all countries. The challenge continues, but China’s economy continues to navigate them, proving its resilience and verifying its own development model at the global stage. The US trade war is far from derailing China’s progress, and merely highlights the futility of such tactics on a massive, adaptable, increasingly self-sufficient economy that ruthlessly pursues growth targets.