China's imports from U.S. edge up 1.2% in first seven months: customs data

China's imports of goods from the U.S. grew by 1.2 percent year-on-yuan in yuan-denominated terms in July, marking the first rebound since February, customs data showed on Wednesday.

Analysts said the figure displays the complementary or win-win nature of the world's two largest economies, calling for the U.S. side to scrap export restrictions on China so as to boost U.S. exports amid rising challenges faced by the U.S. economy.

China's trade with the U.S. reached 2.72 trillion yuan ($379 billion) during the first seven months this year, registering 4.1 percent year-on-year increase.

After months of decline, July saw China's imports from the U.S. hit 106.03 billion yuan, boosting the January-July total trade volume to 683.91 billion yuan, rising 1.2 percent year-on-year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Wednesday.

The figures underscore the robust trade relations between China and the U.S., despite ongoing challenges in bilateral ties. The growing import and export data reflect the intertwined economic relationship between the two. Analysts believe that, despite the U.S. government's pressure placed on normal trade, business exchanges between the two countries' companies are fostering improvements in economic and trade interactions.

China's trade volume with the U.S. is growing, now hitting near record levels. This growth has shown that, despite tensions in bilateral relations, their trade is recovering and keeps expanding, He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Nevertheless, He noted that U.S. government's coercive trade practices against China have hindered bilateral cooperation.

Enhancements in non-governmental trade relations have also contributed to the growth in China-U.S. trade. The recent positive interactions between Chinese and American business people signal an improvement in trade relations, Gao Lingyun, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

On July 22, Rajesh Subramaniam, board chair of the U.S.-China Business Council, led a business delegation to China. The delegation's meeting with Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Vice Premier He Lifeng and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed their commitment to the Chinese market.

From July 27 to August 1, Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, led a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs to the U.S.. During the meetings, Ren expressed hope that China and the U.S. would be able to further promote bilateral business relations.

China's foreign trade achieved rapid growth in July, with foreign trade expanding by 6.2 percent year-on-year to reach 24.83 trillion yuan ($3.46 trillion) in the first seven months, setting a new record.