China’s exports surged 25% in August from a year earlier, supported by strong overseas demand for automobiles, semiconductors and other high-tech products, according to the country’s customs agency.

The latest figures showed exports accelerating from the 23.9% annual increase recorded in July. Imports also grew strongly, rising 28.2% in August compared with a year earlier, up from 27.5% growth in July.

The stronger import figures reduced the gap between export and import growth but still left China with a trade surplus of $119.1 billion in August. That was an increase from the $112.5 billion surplus recorded in July.

The figures were released ahead of an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. Beijing has not yet confirmed the exact date of Xi’s visit, but trade is expected to be among the main issues discussed by the two leaders.

China’s strong export performance has been supported by growing shipments of electric vehicles, industrial machinery and advanced technology products.

“China is very competitive in its tech goods exports,” said Chi Lo, senior market strategist for Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Asset Management.

He said China had moved higher up the value chain in recent years and had become an important supplier of artificial intelligence infrastructure and industrial automation equipment.

Chinese exporters have also benefited from stronger trade with markets outside the United States. Rising shipments to Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa have helped offset some of the pressure created by higher US tariffs.

The strength of China’s trade surplus has raised concerns in both the US and Europe. China’s annual trade surplus reached a record $1.2 trillion last year, prompting calls for greater access to the Chinese market and more balanced trade.

Lo said the strategic tensions between Beijing and Washington were likely to continue, particularly over sensitive goods. The US has restricted China’s access to some advanced technology, while Beijing has tightened controls on exports of certain rare-earth materials.

China and the European Union are also preparing for ministerial-level trade discussions later this year. The EU is seeking to reduce its trade deficit with China, which has reached roughly €1 billion a day.

European authorities have already introduced measures to protect domestic industries, including new restrictions affecting Chinese steel and tax treatment for small e-commerce parcels.

Despite the strong export figures, China’s domestic economy remains under pressure. Consumer spending and investment have been sluggish following years of weakness in the property sector.

Beijing announced on Sunday that it would inject around $54 billion into state banks and insurers as part of efforts to support economic growth.

The combination of strong overseas demand and weaker domestic activity is likely to keep China’s trade performance at the centre of economic and diplomatic discussions in the months ahead.

Italy has emerged as the leading major European economy for salary transparency after a sharp increase in the number of job advertisements that include pay information.

The change comes as most European Union countries have missed the deadline to implement the bloc’s Pay Transparency Directive, which was due to take effect on June 7, 2026.

The directive aims to give jobseekers clearer information about salaries and help tackle pay discrimination and the gender pay gap. Many workers across Europe currently apply for jobs, attend interviews and complete recruitment tests without knowing how much they could earn until late in the hiring process.

Data from global hiring platform Indeed shows the impact of Italy’s implementation. The proportion of Italian job advertisements containing salary information rose from 26% in July 2025 to 61% in July 2026.

Italy now has the highest rate among the five largest European economies tracked by Indeed. It also overtook the United Kingdom for the first time, with the UK recording salary information in 60% of job postings in July.

Pawel Adrjan, director of economic research at Indeed, said Italy had become a leader in pay transparency among Europe’s major economies and that the figures suggested regulation was having a noticeable effect.

Italy’s rules go beyond the basic EU requirements by requiring employers to provide a salary range directly in job advertisements. This means candidates can see the expected pay before deciding whether to apply.

The increase accelerated after the directive came into force. Indeed data showed that the share of Italian job adverts containing salary details rose from 35% in January to 61% in July.

Other major European economies have moved more slowly. The Netherlands recorded 49.5% of job postings with salary information, while France stood at 43%.

Spain was at 18% and Germany at just 14%, meaning fewer than one in five job advertisements in those countries included salary information.

Italy, Slovakia, Malta, Lithuania and Greece were among the EU countries reported to have implemented the directive. Spain has made limited progress, while Germany has delayed implementation until early 2027. France’s position remains unclear.

The UK, although no longer part of the EU, has historically led the six-country comparison. Indeed data showed 40% of UK job advertisements included salary information in January 2020, compared with 20% in France.

The EU gender pay gap stood at 11.1% in 2024, according to Eurostat. The European Trade Union Confederation has criticised governments that missed the implementation deadline, arguing that pay secrecy leaves workers, particularly women, with less information when negotiating employment conditions.

ETUC estimates that women across the EU lose €358 billion each year because of the gender pay gap, equivalent to almost €3,900 per woman.

Adrjan said the next challenge would be whether other European countries can turn the directive into widespread changes in hiring practices.