SHANGHAI has emerged as the world’s largest international trading city due to the government’s measures to encourage and upgrade trade, government officials said yesterday.

Imports and exports through the city’s ports totaled 6.88 trillion yuan (US$998 billion) last year, accounting for 28.3 percent of national value and 3 percent of global trade, Shanghai Commission of Commerce said yesterday.

Shanghai has overtaken Hong Kong and Singapore to be the largest international trading city, according to the commission.