Reckitt Benckiser Plc is ramping up manufacturing in the US and China to bolster its supply chain and potentially lessen its exposure to fresh trade wars.

U.S. imports from China finished the year strong after some companies stockpiled shipments of apparel, toys, furniture and electronics ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose new tariffs that could revive a trade war between the world's economic superpowers.

Shanghai and Guangdong, two of China’s major exporting regions, have set modest growth targets as leaders warn of ‘external factors’.

China has strengthened trade with Latin America at the expense of the U.S. But Donald Trump, who threatens to raise tariffs on Mexico, could upend those ties.

China's exports surged in December as factories raced to fulfill orders before potential U.S. tariff hikes. Exports rose by 10.7%, far surpassing forecasts, while imports modestly increased by 1%. The trade surplus reached $104.

The migration of manufacturing to Mexico could undermine Trump’s promise to voters that ratcheting up tariffs on China would incentivize companies to bring production back to the U.S and give American companies a more even playing field.