US-bound shipments from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region rose 265 per cent year on year to US$2.4 billion in the first seven months of the year, Chinese customs data showed. The increase is startling given China’s overall exports to America have fallen sharply since US President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs on the country’s goods earlier this year, with shipments
in August.
According to the data, the surge was largely driven by a large uptick in shipments of holiday decorations from Xinjiang to the US. Exports of Christmas decorations totalled US$151.7 million during the January-July period – 20 times the amount during the same period last year. Holiday entertainment items – such as magic show equipment – were the second largest export category, followed by toys and models. Both showed sharp year-on-year increases, rising from about US$20 million to US$108.2 million and US$71.4 million, respectively.
