Trade Balance

China Trade Surplus
US Trade Deficit

What is the trade balance, trade surplus and trade deficit all about?

The balance of trade (or net exports, sometimes symbolized as NX) is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports of output in an economy over a certain period. It is the relationship between a nation's imports and exports.

The balance of trade is sometimes divided into a goods and a services balance.
净出口（贸易余额）有时会细分成有形商品和无形服务两部分。

Trade Surplus: 贸易顺差
A positive balance is known as a trade surplus if it consists of exporting more than is imported;
淨出口為正值

Trade Deficit: 贸易逆差、贸易赤字
A negative balance is referred to as a trade deficit or, informally, a trade gap.
淨出口為負值

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_of_trade
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trade-surplus.asp#axzz1UbP3r4jE
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B7%A8%E5%87%BA%E5%8F%A3

China Trade Surplus
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-trade-surplus-widens-more-than-forecast-2011-08-09

Chinese trade surplus widened sharply in July, boosted by above-forecast export growth and offering an upbeat sign for the country’s economy.

The trade surplus expanded to $31.5 billion, from June’s $22.27 billion, according to customs data released Wednesday.

A Reuters survey of economists had projected a $27.5 billion surplus, while a Dow Jones Newswires survey had tipped a $26 billion surfeit.

Export growth for the month accelerated to 20.4%, outpacing 17.9% in June and above the Dow Jones Newswires forecast of 17.5% and Reuters forecast of 17.4%.

Imports also accelerated, rising 22.9% in July compared to 19.3% in June. This outpaced the 22.3% Reuters projection, but lagged the 23.2% tipped by the Dow Jones survey.

Source:

Michael Kitchen is Asia editor for MarketWatch and is based in Los Angeles.