CHINA: China's Imports In March Outpaced Exports

April 12, 2010

China's demand for oil and other commodities is surging as the country's economy powers forward. Beijing says it imported so many things from the rest of the world last month, that it posted an unusual trade deficit. With the U.S., however, China still runs a surplus.

TRANSCRIPT

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

NPR's business news starts with China's import juggernaut.

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MONTAGNE: China's demand for oil and other commodities is surging. Beijing says it's imported so many things from the rest of the world last month, it posted an unusual trade deficit. With the U.S., however, China still runs a surplus, meaning it sells the U.S more than we sell China.

Beijing may be hoping the numbers will ease some of the political pressure to change its currency policy. U.S. lawmakers complained that China keeps its currency unfairly low in order to boost its exports.