TMTPOST -- China's exports grew by 8.1% in April compared to the same month last year, as businesses and consumers rushed to ship goods ahead of new U.S. tariffs that went into effect last month. Meanwhile, imports saw a slight decline of 0.2% year-on-year. On a monthly basis, exports rose by 0.6% from March, while imports saw a nearly 4% increase. China's trade surplus with the United States, a politically sensitive issue, stood at nearly $20.5 billion in April. Over the first four months of the year, exports to the United States dropped by 2.5%, and imports from the U.S. fell by 4.7%.