Photo/Illutration In this June 4, 2021, file photo, gantry cranes move containers onto transporters at a port in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province. (Chinatopix via AP, File)

BEIJING--China’s exports surged in June while import growth slowed to a still-robust level as its economic rebound from the coronavirus leveled off.

Exports rose 32.2 percent from a year earlier to $281.4 billion, up from May’s 28 percent growth, customs data showed Tuesday. Imports grew 36.7 percent to $229.9 billion, but that was down from the previous month’s explosive 51 percent rise.

China led the global recovery from the pandemic but domestic consumer and other economic activity is leveling off. Chinese exporters benefited from the relatively early reopening of the economy while foreign competitors still faced anti-virus shutdowns.

Growth is expected to slow as global activity returns to normal. Exports to the United States rose 17.8 percent over a year ago to $46.9 billion while imports of American goods grew 37.6 percent to $14.3 billion despite tariff hikes still in place in a lingering trade war.

China’s global trade surplus swelled 11 percent over a year earlier to $51.5 billion. The politically sensitive surplus with the United States expanded 10.9 percent to $32.6 billion.

Chinese economic growth soared to 18.3 percent over a year earlier in the first three months of 2021 as consumer and business activity revived following last year’s shutdown to fight the virus. That is expected to decline to a still-strong 7 percent in the three months ending in June and to cool further through next year.

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