Imports rose 27.3% y/y in US dollar terms, the fastest pace of growth since January, and beat economists’ forecasts of +16.2% by a large margin. Exports also topped estimates, rising 12.2% y/y, defying speculation that the imposition of the first US tariffs on Chinese imports would have an adverse effect on trade. The trade surplus narrowed to $28.05 billion, giving back most of June’s gains.