FTAs may help offset falling export revenue

The steep fall in exports is prompting the Chinese government to acclerate the free trade area (FTA) strategy to help local manufacturers reduce export costs and also fend off trade protectionism measures.

Chinese exports fell for a sixth month in a row in April, alarming officials who were expecting the decline to ease further last month.

According to the Customs, Chinese exports in April decreased by 22.6 percent from a year earlier and 5.6 percentage points higher than in March.