China’s Trade Imbalance With EU Swells as Imports Slip Again (1)

China’s imports from the European Union dropped for the first time in three months, again swelling a trade imbalance that’s put it on a collision course with the bloc.

In sharp contrast to China’s surging purchases of foreign goods in May, its imports from the EU slumped 1.3% after two months of gains, according to preliminary and partial data released by the General Administration of Customs on Tuesday. Though exports to the EU slowed and grew 7.6%, the weakest since last October, China’s trade surplus with the bloc still widened slightly from April to stay above $30 billion.