China’s shipments to the United States declined in July, according to the latest business survey from China Beige Book, pointing to weaker export momentum after a brief improvement.
The finding matters because exports have been one of the few areas supporting growth in the Chinese economy. The July survey suggests that support may be fading, with overseas demand no longer providing the same lift it had in recent months.
China Beige Book, a U.S.-based research firm, said U.S.-bound shipments fell outright in July for the first time in several months. That marks a shift from the earlier recovery and indicates that trade flows to the U.S. lost strength during the month.
The survey adds to concerns about the durability of China’s export rebound. If shipments to the U.S. continue to soften, one of the economy’s limited growth drivers could face renewed pressure in the months ahead.
