<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-january-trade-data-beats-forecasts-but-likely-due-to-seasonal-factors-197297">China's trade </a>surplus with the US narrowed in January even as its American imports continued to plunge, official data released on Thursday showed, as officials from the world's top two economies sat down for crucial trade talks in Beijing.&nbsp;

China's exports across the Pacific fell more than 2 per cent in January from a year earlier, data from the customs administration showed, after shrinking in December.&nbsp;

Still, China's trade surplus with the US for the month stood at $27.3 billion. Last year it hit a record $323.3 billion.

It is a major source of anger within the Trump administration, which imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods last year and has threatened more to come.

Officials from the world's top two economies are holding negotiations in Beijing on Thursday and Friday in a bid to resolve their thorny trade dispute.&nbsp;

Trump in December postponed plans to sharply hike tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports until March 1 to allow more time for negotiations. This week he indicated he was open to extending the trade truce depending on progress in Beijing.

"Based on the positive signals from the US-China trade negotiations, further tariff hikes will likely be suspended," noted Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics, adding he expected continued pressure on exports due to a global slowdown and the existing US tariffs.

China's exports to the world - all countries including the US - unexpectedly rose 9.1 per cent in January from a year earlier, turning a corner after exports fell in December.

"One possible explanation for January's upbeat export data could be some re-arrangement of regional supply chains on the back of the ongoing China-US trade dispute," said Betty Wang, an economist at ANZ bank.

Exports to Europe and ASEAN countries surged, she wrote in the research note.&nbsp;

China's imports, however, continued to fall in January, down 1.5 per cent from a year earlier, though at a slower pace than a 10.2 per cent decline forecast by Bloomberg News.

"The import slowdown in recent months obviously in part reflects the slowdown in China's domestic economy," said Kuijs.

A slew of bad economic data has added to concerns about China's economy, which grew at its slowest pace in almost three decades last year.

Analysts cautioned that it is difficult to compare trends at the start of each year due to the Chinese New Year holiday, which came in early February this year and can affect business activity.

"The broad trend in shipments still appears to be pointing down," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics.&nbsp;

"The downbeat outlook for global growth means that this year is likely to be challenging for Chinese exporters, even if the ongoing US-China trade negotiations culminate in a deal," Evans-Pritchard wrote in a research note.

China's trade surplus with the US narrowed in January even as its American imports continued to plunge, official data released on Thursday showed, as officials from the world's top two economies sat down for crucial trade talks in Beijing.

China's trade surplus with the US narrowed in January even as its American imports continued to plunge, official data released on Thursday showed, as officials from the world's top two economies sat down for crucial trade talks in Beijing. China's exports across the Pacific fell more than 2 per cent in January from a year earlier, data from the customs administration showed, after shrinking in December. Still, China's trade surplus with the US for the month stood at $27.3 billion. Last year it hit a record $323.3 billion. It is a major source of anger within the Trump administration, which imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods last year and has threatened more to come. Officials from the world's top two economies are holding negotiations in Beijing on Thursday and Friday in a bid to resolve their thorny trade dispute. Trump in December postponed plans to sharply hike tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports until March 1 to allow more time for negotiations. This week he indicated he was open to extending the trade truce depending on progress in Beijing. "Based on the positive signals from the US-China trade negotiations, further tariff hikes will likely be suspended," noted Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics, adding he expected continued pressure on exports due to a global slowdown and the existing US tariffs. China's exports to the world - all countries including the US - unexpectedly rose 9.1 per cent in January from a year earlier, turning a corner after exports fell in December. "One possible explanation for January's upbeat export data could be some re-arrangement of regional supply chains on the back of the ongoing China-US trade dispute," said Betty Wang, an economist at ANZ bank. Exports to Europe and ASEAN countries surged, she wrote in the research note. China's imports, however, continued to fall in January, down 1.5 per cent from a year earlier, though at a slower pace than a 10.2 per cent decline forecast by Bloomberg News. "The import slowdown in recent months obviously in part reflects the slowdown in China's domestic economy," said Kuijs. A slew of bad economic data has added to concerns about China's economy, which grew at its slowest pace in almost three decades last year. Analysts cautioned that it is difficult to compare trends at the start of each year due to the Chinese New Year holiday, which came in early February this year and can affect business activity. "The broad trend in shipments still appears to be pointing down," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics. "The downbeat outlook for global growth means that this year is likely to be challenging for Chinese exporters, even if the ongoing US-China trade negotiations culminate in a deal," Evans-Pritchard wrote in a research note.

China's trade surplus with US narrows in January

The Supreme Court of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=SCP">SCP</a>) has ordered a ban on the sale, import and export of &quot;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Chinese%20salt">Chinese salt</a>&quot; (Monosodium Glutamate) across the country, calling it as &quot;dangerous to health.&quot;

The salt, popularly known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Ajinomoto">Ajinomoto</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>, is used in various dishes and frozen foods to enhance the taste. The salt is made in China and is manufactured in the country.

A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Mian%20Saqib%20Nisar">Mian Saqib Nisar</a>, while hearing a case against the usage of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Ajinomoto">Ajinomoto</a>&nbsp;salt ordered the top authorities to implement the court&#39;s orders soon.

Justice Nisar urged&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Pakistan">Pakistan</a>&nbsp;Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Shahid%20Khaqan%20Abbasi">Shahid Khaqan Abbasi</a>&nbsp;to take up the issue in the cabinet.

The apex court was told that the country&#39;s three provinces including eastern&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Punjab">Punjab</a>, northwestern&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Khyber%20Pakhtunkhwa">Khyber Pakhtunkhwa</a>&nbsp;and southern&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Sindh">Sindh</a>&nbsp;have already banned the condiment and are taking measures against its selling. It also took a suo motu notice of the issue after reports about its hazardous effects on human health were surfaced, The Dawn reported.

In January, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Punjab">Punjab</a>&nbsp;Food Authority had recommended banning the &quot;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Chinese%20salt">Chinese salt</a>&quot; after tests found that the condiment was hazardous to its health by its scientific panel.

According to the findings of the panel, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Ajinomoto">Ajinomoto</a>&nbsp;salt is extremely hazardous for pregnant women and it can cause headaches, fatigue, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, sweating, flushing and numbness of the face and hypertension.

The SCP ordered a ban on the sale, import and export of the Chinese salt

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has ordered a ban on the sale, import and export of "Chinese salt" (Monosodium Glutamate) across the country, calling it as "dangerous to health." The salt, popularly known as Ajinomoto in Pakistan, is used in various dishes and frozen foods to enhance the taste. The salt is made in China and is manufactured in the country. A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, while hearing a case against the usage of Ajinomoto salt ordered the top authorities to implement the court's orders soon. Justice Nisar urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to take up the issue in the cabinet. The apex court was told that the country's three provinces including eastern Punjab, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Sindh have already banned the condiment and are taking measures against its selling. It also took a suo motu notice of the issue after reports about its hazardous effects on human health were surfaced, The Dawn reported. In January, the Punjab Food Authority had recommended banning the "Chinese salt" after tests found that the condiment was hazardous to its health by its scientific panel. According to the findings of the panel, the Ajinomoto salt is extremely hazardous for pregnant women and it can cause headaches, fatigue, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, sweating, flushing and numbness of the face and hypertension.

Pakistan SC bans 'Ajinomoto' salt

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China's trade surplus with US narrows in January

Pakistan SC bans 'Ajinomoto' salt