China’s March exports grow despite virus; imports flat

By JOE McDONALD
AP Business Writer

BEIJING (AP) — China’s exports rose 15.7% in March over a year earlier while imports were flat due to disruptions from coronavirus outbreaks. Customs data show exports rose to $276 billion despite anti-virus controls in Shanghai and other industrial hubs that caused factories to reduce output. Imports rose less than 1% to $228.7 billion. The ruling Communist Party’s “zero-tolerance” anti-virus strategy is weighing on consumer and factory activity by confining most of Shanghai’s 25 million people to their homes and suspending access to other manufacturing centers. The anti-virus curbs raise risks of further disruptions to global trade following the pandemic. Chinese officials say they are taking steps to keep ports functioning.