U.S. orders for Chinese goods rebound ahead of Trump-Xi summit

U.S. orders for Chinese goods saw an unexpected rebound in September, according to data from the China Beige Book. A survey of 1,295 Chinese businesses showed the indicator for U.S. orders rose to 13 in September, up from 3 in August and a negative 12 a year earlier.

The research firm described the increase as a “surprise,” noting that shipments strengthened due to China’s improved relative tariff position. This surge occurred amid ongoing economic discussions between Washington and Beijing, including a state visit by President Xi Jinping to the White House to meet with President Trump.

While U.S.-bound demand increased, the growth was not uniform across the Chinese economy. Overall domestic and export orders remained below previous year levels, and new orders showed weakness compared to August.