It's the first time China's full-year trade surplus has passed $1tn, beating 2024's record figure of $993bn. China's monthly export surpluses passed $100bn seven times last year - a sign that Trump's tariff campaign have barely affected its overall trade with the rest of the world.

The Trump administration plans to replace the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam with a nominee set on addressing "imbalanced" trade relations, as Hanoi's goods trade surplus with Washington surpassed China's in recent quarters while it was locked in unresolved tariff negotiations with Washington.

The Aussie trade balance for November was out yesterday and shows one great, big trend: a disappearing trade surplus. Some of this was always going to happen as the post-Ukraine War commodities mania subsided.