China’s economy grew more than expected in the last three months of 2024, official data showed on Friday, as it awaits the likely imposition of fresh tariffs by US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next week.

Even before Donald Trump takes office on Monday, trade tensions between the world’s biggest economies are already heating up.

US seaports handled the equivalent of 451,000 40-foot containers of goods from China in December, a year-over-year increase of 14.5%.

China is the US's biggest customer when it comes to agricultural products. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to impose steep tariffs on China in his second term. Many farmers in the American heartland worry China's response could break them.