China’s trade surplus soars past $1 trillion as AI boom powers exports

BEIJING – China's trade surplus surpassed $1 trillion within the first ten months of 2026, driven by a global race to establish artificial intelligence infrastructure, according to recent data. This surge in exports is expected to intensify tensions with major trading partners, as the figures underscore Beijing's increasing dependence on overseas demand to sustain an economy grappling with low consumption and a lingering property crisis.

The data arrives on the heels of upcoming discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, where economic ties and tariff policies will be central topics. While the global AI investment boom is projected to sustain demand for Chinese technology products through 2027, experts caution that this growing reliance on external markets could leave China more susceptible to protectionist policies abroad, while simultaneously obscuring underlying domestic economic challenges.