Overseas shipments represented a rare bright spot in China's economy last year as sluggish domestic consumption and a prolonged crisis in the property sector dragged on growth.

Total exports last year "exceeded 25 trillion yuan for the first time, reaching 25.45 trillion yuan ($3.47 trillion)... a year-on-year increase of 7.1 percent", state broadcaster CCTV said.

Imports totalled 18.39 trillion yuan, a rise of 2.3 percent on-year, CCTV said, adding that combined trade swelled five percent to reach a record 43.85 trillion yuan.

Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on China during his first term in office and has threatened even heftier levies when he returns to the White House next week.