May 2014 Trade Bulletin

Highlights of this month’s edition: Bilateral trade expands, mostly due to U.S. exports; monthly bilateral trade deficit down 33 percent since September 2013; Bilateral policy issues: Treasury calls RMB decline “unprecedented”; USTR Special 301 Report voices concerns about IP and trade secrets; dual appeal in WTO rare earths case; China’s economy: GDP growth slows to 7.4 percent; only one Chinese province meets 2014 growth target; China’s exports and investment underperform in first quarter; China’s GDP set to surpass the United States on PPP-basis as China’s income inequality widens; Sector spotlight – Copper: Minmetals buys Peruvian copper mine for $5.85 billion; mine could supply 4-5 percent of China’s copper imports; supply-demand imbalances ahead.