<p>China's trade surplus with the United States widened last year despite a partial trade deal requiring Beijing to boost purchases, official figures showed Thursday.</p>.<p>Donald Trump had made closing the trade gap with China a priority when he took office four years ago and launched a bruising trade war with Beijing.</p>.<p>But China's customs administration data showed the surplus climbed 7.1 per cent to $316.9 billion, with outbound shipments boosted by sales of electronics goods and protective gear.</p>.<p>Although the world's second-largest economy suffered a record contraction in the first quarter of last year as the coronavirus essentially brought activity to a halt, it soon recovered as lockdowns in the country were eased and medical exports soared.</p>.<p>For the whole of 2020, China's exports rose by 3.6 per cent, although imports shrank 1.1 per cent.</p>.<p>In December, however, both exports and imports rose more than expected at 18.1 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively.</p>.<p>Customs spokesman Li Kuiwen told reporters Thursday that "facing unprecedented difficulties and challenges, our country's imports and exports delivered a brilliant report card", adding that the outcome was "significantly better than expected".</p>.<p>Li said outbound shipments of mechanical and electrical products rose, with increases seen in notebook computers, household appliances and medical instruments and equipment.</p>.<p>Textile exports including masks -- which surged in demand globally during the pandemic -- rose 30.4 per cent in yuan terms, he added.</p>
<p>China's trade surplus with the United States widened last year despite a partial trade deal requiring Beijing to boost purchases, official figures showed Thursday.</p>.<p>Donald Trump had made closing the trade gap with China a priority when he took office four years ago and launched a bruising trade war with Beijing.</p>.<p>But China's customs administration data showed the surplus climbed 7.1 per cent to $316.9 billion, with outbound shipments boosted by sales of electronics goods and protective gear.</p>.<p>Although the world's second-largest economy suffered a record contraction in the first quarter of last year as the coronavirus essentially brought activity to a halt, it soon recovered as lockdowns in the country were eased and medical exports soared.</p>.<p>For the whole of 2020, China's exports rose by 3.6 per cent, although imports shrank 1.1 per cent.</p>.<p>In December, however, both exports and imports rose more than expected at 18.1 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively.</p>.<p>Customs spokesman Li Kuiwen told reporters Thursday that "facing unprecedented difficulties and challenges, our country's imports and exports delivered a brilliant report card", adding that the outcome was "significantly better than expected".</p>.<p>Li said outbound shipments of mechanical and electrical products rose, with increases seen in notebook computers, household appliances and medical instruments and equipment.</p>.<p>Textile exports including masks -- which surged in demand globally during the pandemic -- rose 30.4 per cent in yuan terms, he added.</p>