Total exports from China rose 8.1% last month from a year earlier, much faster than the 2% pace most economists had been expecting. That was much slower than the 12.4% year-on-year increase in March.

China has reported that its exports rose 8.1% in April from the year before in the tail end of a rush by companies and consumers to beat higher U.S. tariffs that took effect last month.

Total exports from China rose 8.1 percent last month from a year earlier, much faster than the 2 percent pace most economists had been expecting. That was much slower than the 12.4 percent year-on ...