INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFPChinese exports saw the steepest fall for two years in December, according to the latest trade figures.Exports from China
fell 4.4% last month compared with the year before, while imports fell 7.6%.The figures indicate a further weakening in the strength of the
world's second biggest economy and sent Asian stock markets lower on Monday.Other data released on Monday showed the country's trade surplus
with the US reached a record high in 2018.The gap between what it exports to and imports from the US rose by 17.2% to $323.32bn (£252bn)
China's success in selling its products overseas has particularly irked US President Donald Trump, who has initiated a trade war with China
to try to hold back exports.This prompted companies to push through exports to try to beat the introduction of tariffs, so called "front
loading".After almost a year of tariffs being introduced on a growing list of Chinese products - with China reacting in kind - the two
leading nations began talks last week designed to end the conflict.Falling demand in China itself is having a marked effect on certain
companies.Earlier this month, Apple warned that its revenues would be lower than expected, partly due to the slowdown in China
Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has also been hit by weaker sales in China.December's trade figures suggest the economy may be slowing faster
than feared.Freya Beamish, Asia economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: "The extent of deterioration in trade in both exports and
imports was eye-catching; both dropped further in December, after a substantial drop in November."Some pull-back was warranted in recent
months, after front-loading of purchases ahead of the series of tariffs hikes
But trade now is now well below the previous trends."The Chinese authorities have recently been taking action to try to boost growth,
releasing money to be spent on infrastructure and cutting taxes
