A year ago, Donald Trump waged a tariff war to curtail China’s relentless industrial manufacturing growth in a bid to revive US factories. One measure of that failure became abundantly apparent this week when China announced the world’s largest ever trade surplus - of almost $1.8 trillion.

In trade terms, Trump has been stumped.

A tsunami of Chinese exports to the rest of the world has blunted Trump’s tariff strategy. The world’s second-largest economy has adapted quickly and vigorously to the new world trade order. It has found new customers and new workarounds.

Trump’s attempts to thwart the rise of Chinese manufacturing appears to have it instead. Credit: AP

Despite Trump’s attempts to curb Chinese advancements in technology, the nation reported strong demand for electronics and lower-grade AI chips and booming electric vehicle shipments, which are up almost 50 per cent. China has set the stage to be the world’s top automobile exporter........

© The Sydney Morning Herald