Last year's record Chinese trade surplus of $1.2 trillion looks set to be surpassed this year, as Chinese exports normally rise in the fourth quarter, Bloomberg reports.
The issue is politically sensitive in both Washington and Brussels, where tariffs and other trade barriers are under discussion.
Ahead of this week's EU summit, Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has been in Beijing and, among other things, negotiated restrictions on imports of Chinese hybrid cars into the EU.
EU leaders are also expected to review other tools at the summit that could be used to slow the flow of Chinese goods into the EU.
