China's imports in August miss estimates as exports pick up pace amid calls for rebalancing trade

SHENZHEN, CHINA - MAY 1: The Chinese national flag is seen in front of stacked shipping containers bearing MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), Maersk, and Hamburg Süd branding at Yantian Port on May 1, 2026, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesChina's trade gained pace in August, though imports missed expectations, a sign that domestic demand remains tepid as the world's second-largest economy faces mounting pressure to rebalance trade.Exports grew 25% in U.S. dollar terms in August from a year earlier, official customs data showed Tuesday, in line with Reuters-polled analysts' forecast, quickening from 23.9% increase the previous month. Imports rose 28.2% last month, missing economists' estimates of 30% in a Reuters poll, but gathering momentum from 27.5% in July. As a result, China's trade surplus swelled to $119.09 billion from $112.5 billion in July. Exports have become the primary growth driver for China's economy, as surging demand for high-tech components amid a global build-out of AI infrastructure has helped cushion the drag from geopolitical shocks, sluggish domestic demand and a slump in investment. Policymakers set a tar...