BEIJING: China's exports rose more than expected in April despite escalating trade tensions with the United States, even as bilateral trade with Washington saw a steep decline, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

Exports increased by 8.1 per cent year-on-year in dollar terms, the Chinese customs authority said on Friday. Imports dipped slightly by 0.2 per cent, leaving a trade surplus of US$96 billion for the month.

The figures came in well above market expectations. Economists had anticipated weaker export growth and a sharper drop in imports.

Trade with the US, however, plummeted following a wave of new tariffs introduced in April. US President Donald Trump imposed additional duties of up to 145 per cent on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate with its tariffs of up to 125 per cent on US imports and new export restrictions on critical raw materials.

As a result, Chinese exports to the US fell by 21 per cent in April from a year earlier, while imports from the US declined by 13.8 per cent, according to official data.

-- BERNAMA