Global Goods Trade Slows as Tariff Frontrunning Ends, WTO Says

Containers at the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles.

Photographer: Tim Rue/Bloomberg

Global merchandise trade slowed last quarter as the boost seen earlier this year from front-loading of orders ahead of US tariffs faded, the World Trade Organization said.

The WTO’s goods barometer dropped to 101.8 in September from 102.2 for June, the Geneva-based organization said on Friday. The baseline of 100 indicates growth over the next quarter that’s in line with medium-term trends.