China's April exports, imports decline more than expected

Beijing

CHINA'S exports and imports fell more than expected in April, underlining weak demand at home and abroad and cooling hopes of a recovery in the world's second largest economy.

Exports fell 1.8 per cent from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said on Sunday, reversing the previous month's brief recovery and supporting the govern-ment's concerns that the foreign trade environment will be challenging in 2016.

April imports dropped 10.9 per cent from a year earlier, falling for the 18th consecutive month, suggesting that domestic demand remains weak despite a pickup in infr…