China just dropped a $1 trillion bombshell on the global economy. That’s the size of its trade surplus last year, a jaw-dropping number that has everyone from Washington to Jakarta clutching their spreadsheets.

China’s trade surplus hit almost a trillion dollars in 2024, driven by record exports of $3.6 trillion, according to official data. The surplus, which is equivalent to 992.2 billion in US dollars, has sparked concerns about a new wave of global trade tensions,