Disputes grow with trade

China's foreign trade and overseas investment by domestic companies has continued to grow rapidly despite a congruent increase in trade conflicts, a report released by the Ministry of Commerce said yesterday.

The country's foreign trade surpassed $2 trillion in 2007, a 23.5 percent increase over the previous year, making China the world's third largest trader. Overseas investment by Chinese companies in non-financial sectors increased 6.2 percent year-on-year to $18.7 billion last year, the report said.

The ministry yesterday released the report on the investment environment for China's major trade partners to help trade partners understand one another and relevant trade barriers. The ministry has released the report annually since 2003.