Trade surplus slackens

China's trade surplus decreased slightly last month from a year ago amid declines in international trade growth triggered by the global economic slowdown.

Monthly surplus reached $16.68 billion last month, down 1.14 percent year-on-year but up 24.5 percent from $13.4 billion in March, the General Administration of Customs said yesterday.

Exports in April rose 21.8 percent year-on-year to $118.71 billion, while imports rose 26.3 percent to $102.03 billion.