China Daily reports that the value of trade in China's goods in 2013 is set to exceed that of the U.S., making the world's second-largest economy the world's top trader for the first time in the modern era.
Surprisingly strong exports reported by China on Friday bolstered the view that the global economy is improving, just as Chinese leaders were set to hold an important policy meeting to flesh out their economic agenda for the coming years.
China has a new status its government doesn't want - world's biggest trader. Trade data from both governments indicate China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of $3.86tr to $3.8tr. That is about $44bn, or just over one percent of China's total.
