China's October exports fall in new sign of global weaknessBEIJING -- China's exports fell again in October in a fresh sign that weak global demand is complicating efforts by Beijing leaders to shore up economic growth and reduce reliance on trade and investment. Exports contracted by 7.3 percent from a year earlier to $178.1 billion, an improvement from September's 10 percent decline, customs data showed Tuesday. China's global trade surplus widened to $49 billion in October from September's $42 billion. The surplus with the United States was $23.7 billion and that with the 27-nation European Union, China's biggest trading partner, was $12.1 billion. Chinese leaders want to reduce reliance on trade but their plans call for keeping exports stable to avoid politically dangerous job losses.

Source: The China Post November 08, 2016 06:57 UTC