China's soft August trade data could presage further weakness in its key export sector in the months ahead, suggesting that the world's No. 2 economy will continue to slow.
The data released Monday showed that China's external and internal drivers continue to weaken. Exports continued to be dragged down by weak demand from Europe, which until this year was China's largest export market, and tepid growth in the U.S. Declining imports indicated that domestic demand is faltering.