China Nears Record $1 Trillion Trade Surplus as Trump Returns

China’s trade surplus is on track to hit a fresh record this year, increasingly leaving it on a collision course with some of the world’s biggest economies by aggravating an imbalance in global commerce that risks provoking President-elect Donald Trump.

The difference between Chinese exports and imports is set to reach almost $1 trillion if it continues to widen at the same pace as it has in the year to date, according to Bloomberg calculations. The goods trade surplus soared to $785 billion in the first 10 months, according to data released last week, the highest on record for that period and an increase of almost 16% from 2023.