Despite less global pandemic restrictions, China's export growth unexpectedly slowed in July by about 5% from the month before, in part because of some reports of new COVID-19 outbreaks.
China, the world's biggest exporter, has surged back since the beginning of the pandemic but officials say new infections in July, caused by the so-called Delta strain, have spread to Chinese cities.
Chinese authorities locked down targeted areas and temporarily suspend operations of some factories and exporters.
As a result, American construction companies continue to deal with high prices and shortages for building materials including but not limited to lumber.
Seasonal floods and bad weather also hampered exports. Despite the dip in exports, they are still way ahead of what they were this time last year.
Officials say Chinese exporters also struggled with an ongoing global semiconductor shortage and higher raw material and freight costs.
China's crude oil imports, however, rebounded in July from a six-month low as state-backed refiners ramped up output.
The trade war with China, which the Trump Administration focused on, is apparently being lost at the moment with China posting a trade surplus of $56.58 billion. According to Reuters, China's trade surplus with the United States rose to $35.4 billion.
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