China has reported that its exports rose 8.1% in April from the year before, much higher than most economists had been expecting, in the tail end of a rush by companies and consumers to beat higher U.

China’s exports growth showed resilience in April, defying expectations that the effects of a trade war with the US would start to bite. Exports grew 8.1 per cent in dollar terms compared with a year earlier, according to statistics from China’s customs administration released on Friday.

China has granted tariff exemptions on select pharmaceuticals, microchips and aircraft engines from its 125% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods imposed after President Donald Trump unleashed his tariffs in April.