China's trade surplus widened to $119.09 billion in August as dollar-denominated exports rose 25.0% from a year earlier to $401.4 billion and imports increased 28.2% to $282.3 billion. Export growth accelerated from 23.9% in July and exceeded the 23.8% increase forecast by economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, with the global buildout of artificial-intelligence infrastructure supporting demand for Chinese technology products. Strong shipments of automobiles, semiconductors, batteries and industrial machinery have helped offset subdued consumption, investment and property activity at home, while sales to Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa have cushioned the impact of elevated U.S. tariffs. The first-eight-month surplus reached $805.51 billion after a record $1.2 trillion surplus last year, intensifying U.S. and European concerns over trade imbalances ahead of planned U.S.-China and EU-China trade discussions.