China’s trade surplus widened sharply in June 2026, reaching USD 125.62 billion and setting a new record for the month. The increase reflected a strong rise in both exports and imports, with trade flows boosted by surging demand for AI-related hardware, higher chip prices, and resilient external demand. Exports climbed 27% year on year to a record USD 412.39 billion, while imports jumped 36% to an all-time high of USD 286.76 billion. The import figure was the fastest growth i

China’s June imports surged to a record high, rising 36.0% year on year to USD 286.76 billion, well above expectations and the fastest pace since June 2021. The increase was driven by stronger demand for chips, AI-related hardware, and a range of industrial and commodity inputs, while crude oil imports fell sharply amid geopolitical disruption and weaker refinery activity. The strongest support came from manufacturing-linked and technology-related trade, reflecting continued

China's foreign direct investment (FDI) continued to contract during the first half of 2026, reflecting the ongoing challenges facing the country's investment environment. According to official data, inbound FDI fell by 5.0% year-on-year between January and June 2026, an improvement from the 8.6% decline recorded during the first five months of the year. While the latest figures indicate that the pace of contraction is easing, they also mark the third consecutive year of cumu

On July 16, 2026, a landmark event unfolded in Shanghai with the signing of the agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). With 29 founding member countries, including China, Russia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan, the organization marks the world's first intergovernmental body dedicated to international cooperation on artificial intelligence . With its headquarters in Shanghai, WAICO aims to ensure that AI develops in a ma

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao convened the first meeting of the EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC) in the Belgian capital on 29 June 2026, establishing a new framework for bilateral economic dialogue. Designed to strengthen ministerial-level engagement on trade and investment policies, the TIC aims to stabilise and rebalance the bilateral relationship between the two key trading

According to MERICS & Rhodium Group tracking in 2025, Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe increasingly focuses on localized manufacturing and strategic industrial infrastructure. According to a joint study by the Mercator Institute for China Studies and the Rhodium Group, Chinese outbound FDI into Europe rose by 67 per cent to 18 billion USD in 2025, marking the highest level recorded in seven years. The investment strategy increasingly emphasizes greenfield pro