China’s economy is more dependent on exports than it has been for most of the past two decades, leaving it vulnerable to a new broadside on trade from President-elect Donald Trump. Chinese exports to the rest of the world grew 5.

China’s total exports reached 25.45 trillion yuan (£3.47 trillion) in 2024, marking a 7.1% increase from the previous year, amid threats from US president-elect Donald Trump to impose tariffs.

China's exports surged to a record high in 2024, providing a much-needed boost for the economy as the prospect of biting tariffs imposed by US president-elect Donald Trump looms. But Trump, who imposed sweeping tariffs on China during his first term in office,