Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    March 10, 2012

China Reports Rare Trade Deficit

   VOA News

   Chinese officials on Saturday reported a huge trade deficit in
   February, as imports swamped exports, to leave the largest deficit in
   at least a decade.
   Customs data showed that exports in February earned $114.5 billion,
   while imports stood at $145.9 billion. The $31.4 billion deficit was
   the largest since the mid-1990s, and a rare exception to a recent
   string of multibillion-dollar surpluses.
   Analysts say efforts to sell to China's major trading partners in the
   West are suffering from the effects of the eurozone debt crisis and
   weak economic recovery in the United States.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

.