China October export growth strong in race to beat higher US tariffs

A truck transports a shipping container at Qingdao port in Shandong province, China October 12, 2018. [Photo: Reuters]

BEIJING - China reported stronger-than-expected exports for October as shippers rushed goods to the United States, its biggest trading partner, seeking to beat higher tariff rates due to kick in at the start of next year.

Import growth also defied forecasts for a slowdown, suggesting Beijing’s efforts to cushion the cooling economy may be slowly starting to make themselves felt.