Chinese province urges firms to seize the day as Xi-Trump meeting provides trade stability

Eastern manufacturing centre Zhejiang asks traders to find opportunities for US exports in rare period of detente in run-up to leaders’ summit

The hope among regional officials for more trade lays bare the dependence some key Chinese localities still have on America despite diversification and decoupling.

Major manufacturers in Zhejiang – which helped the coastal province grow its annual export value to the second largest among all localities in China – have been asked by local authorities in recent weeks to increase production and expedite delivery of US-bound goods, the South China Morning Post has learned.

The move comes after Zhejiang officials deemed that bilateral economic and trade ties would remain “settled” and in turn create a “favourable climate” for expanding exports to the US, the province’s largest overseas market.