From the New York Times (link)
China disclosed today that its trade surplus surged to $11.19 billion in March, its second-highest monthly surplus ever and a level that could feed trade frictions in advance of President Hu Jintao’s visit to the United States next week.
Soaring exports and slowing growth in imports caused the Chinese surplus to more than double compared to March of last year, and nearly eclipsed China’s record monthly trade surplus of $12.02 billion, set last October.
The surplus in March was especially significant because China usually runs modest surpluses in the first quarter. During the second quarter, factories step up their shipments to the United States and Europe of everything from toys to DVD players in preparation for the Christmas retailing season.
