China's trade surplus hits $27bn as exports rise

| Thursday November 11, 2010 00:00

The $27.1bn (£17bn) surplus was up sharply on September's $16.9bn and was just behind the year's high of $28.7bn, reached in July.

The rise may increase criticism in Washington that Beijing is keeping its currency artificially low to boost exports at the expense of competitors.

Trade imbalances and currency manipulation will be key topics at the G20 meeting of leading nations in South Korea today and tomorrow.

Some US lawmakers are pressing for tariffs on Chinese imports to the US if Beijing fails to act.

Critics say China's currency controls keep the yuan undervalued by up to 40% against the US dollar, making its exports cheaper.

According to the Chinese data, October exports rose to $135.9bn, while imports were $108.8bn.

It came despite China's economic expansion cooling to 9.6% in the three months to the end of September from 10.3% in the previous quarter - (BBC)