For the first time, China’s external trade in 2021 surpassed $6 trillion in a single year, up 21% compared to the previous year, according to new data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) released on Friday.
Last year’s increase is higher than expected given the disruptions brought on by COVID-19, supply chain problems, and worsening relations with the United States — China’s largest trading partner. Regardless, though, trade volumes with China’s three largest trade partners (ASEAN, the EU, and the U.S.) all surged around 20% last year.