U.S. imports plummeted 16.3 percent in April from the previous month, marking the largest monthly decline on record, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday.
According to the data, U.S. import volumes in April stood at 351 billion U.S. dollars, 68.4 billion U.S. dollars less than the figure in March.
Imports of consumer goods, including pharmaceutical preparations and household goods, industrial supplies and materials, and automotive parts all saw significant decreases.
An analyst article in The New York Times noted that the sharp decline in U.S. imports in April from March reflects a surge in goods imported by U.S. importers before U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff announcement in early April.
US imports plunge to record low in April
US imports plunge to record low in April
US imports plunge to record low in April
President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung has expressed his hope that his upcoming visit to China will help eliminate past misunderstandings and issues, underscoring the importance of ties between the two countries.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lee will pay a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7. It will be Lee's first visit to China since he took office.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Seoul on Wednesday, Lee acknowledged the existing misunderstandings and issues between the two countries, noting that addressing these issues is a key goal of his visit.
"The current international landscape is turbulent, with escalating issues among various countries. In this context, the relationship between the Republic of Korea and China holds significant importance for us. the ROK and China are deeply interconnected in many areas, including history, economy, geopolitics, politics and security. Northeast Asia's peace, stability, mutual respect, and common prosperity are crucial for both countries," said Lee.
"Admittedly, there have been some misunderstandings and issues between the ROK and China, which have hindered the development of bilateral relations to some extent. Therefore, the purpose of my upcoming visit to China is to minimize or eliminate these past issues, foster a leap in our bilateral relations to a new level, and solidify the ROK and China as partners that mutually support each other's development," he said.
ROK President hopes to reduce misunderstandings with China during upcoming visit
