BEIJING (AP) – In June, China's exports saw an acceleration as the easing of U.S. tariffs led to a wave of orders from both companies and consumers. According to customs data released on Monday, exports rose by 5.8% compared to the same month last year, a notable increase from the 4.8% growth recorded in May.

Additionally, imports also showed signs of recovery, with a modest growth of 1.1%, marking the first increase in imports this year. However, exports to the United States continued to decline, experiencing a 16% drop. This decline, while concerning, represented a significant improvement compared to the 34.5% decrease observed in May, indicating some stabilization in trade relations.

The context for these trade figures can be traced back to the trade tensions initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs as high as 245% on various imports from China. In retaliation, China implemented its own steep import tariffs. Although both parties agreed to pause the imposition of further tariffs to create room for negotiations, preliminary discussions have yet to yield any substantial advancements.

Despite the ongoing tariff tensions, the Trump administration has escalated tariffs on imports from China by another 35%. This move is particularly significant as there is a deadline of August 12 looming, which could see the reimplementation of the higher tariffs that both nations have temporarily postponed.

The uptick in trade activity is anticipated to provide a boost to economic growth for the second quarter of the year, covering the months of April to June. The Chinese government is expected to publish the corresponding economic growth figures on Tuesday, which will likely reflect the impact of this trade recovery.

The ongoing dynamics in international trade, especially between China and the U.S., remain crucial in determining economic trends not just for these countries, but for the broader global economy as well. Traders and analysts are closely monitoring how these tariffs and trade negotiations will evolve and affect the economic landscape in the upcoming months.