China has reported its exports surged 7.2% in July from a year earlier while its imports grew at the fastest pace in a year, as businesses rushed to take advantage of a truce in President Donald Trump's trade war with Beijing.

China is shipping more goods to Southeast Asia and other regions that often re-export them to the United States. China still sells three times as much to the United States as it buys.

(Yicai) Aug. 8 -- China's exports rose more than expected in July as firms rushed to ship goods ahead of escalating US tariffs and increasingly moved production overseas to avoid rising trade barriers.