China August exports rise 4.4% y/y, missing forecasts, imports up 1.3%

BEIJING, Sept 8 (Reuters) - China's export growth slowed more than expected in August, expanding 4.4% from a year earlier, while imports rose 1.3%, customs data showed on Monday.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected outbound shipments to expand by 5.0%, down from a 7.2% increase in July. Imports were forecast to grow 3.0%, against a 4.1% increase in the previous month.

U.S. President Donald Trump's erratic trade policy - marked by multiple rounds of tit-for-tat tariff hikes with Beijing and other forms of trade restrictions - has heaped pressure on China's export-oriented economy, while domestic demand has been tepid, posing a serious test to policymakers.