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Michael Pettis, economist, professor of finance, nonresident senior fellow, author, macroeconomic analyst at Peking University; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlights that total trade in the Yangtze River Delta region—including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui—rose 16 percent year on year during the five months ended May 31.
According to data cited, exports reached CNY4.9 trillion and imports stood at CNY2.9 trillion, with the region now accounting for 38 percent of China’s total foreign trade.
Pettis has previously highlighted challenges in China’s economic structure, noting a persistent focus on production over consumption and rising excess capacity in recent years, as reported here. He has also cited estimates showing that 10.6% of Chinese adults were overdue on debt payments at the end of 2025, according to another analysis. These observations provide context for current trends in the country's trade data.