China’s exports to the US fell sharply in April after Donald Trump’s triple-digit tariffs took effect, in another sign of the damage the US president’s trade war is causing the world’s two largest economies as they prepare for de-escalation talks.

The drop in U.S.-bound shipments was offset by a surge in Chinese goods to Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

China's exports in April surged 9.3 percent in yuan-denominated terms to 2.27 trillion yuan ($314.17 billion), beating expectations as the country's trade expanded at a solid pace despite hefty US tariffs on Chinese goods,