Slowing Korean Export Growth Raises Red Flag on Global Trade

A drop in South Korean exports to China and another weak figure for semiconductor shipments add to concerns over the strength of global trade amid the economic conflict between Washington and Beijing.

Preliminary trade data for the first 20 days of November showed a 4.3 percent slip in exports to China, the first fall outside holiday-affected months since late 2016. The drop follows seven-straight months of growth above 20 percent in the early readings.