# private enterprises

China’s Trade Posts Strong Start to 2026 as Exports and Imports Surge — But Trade with the US Slumps

China reported an 18.3% year-on-year rise in goods trade for January–February 2026, driven by a near-20% bounce in exports and strong import growth. Private firms, diversified markets such as ASEAN and the EU, and buoyant bonded logistics activity underpinned the recovery, while trade with the United States contracted sharply.