China’s Exports Slow Sharply in September as Global Demand Weakens

China’s exports slowed sharply in September as global demand weakened, ding to worries over how to recharge growth in world’s second-largest ecomy.

Exports rose 2.4% in dollar terms last month, down from 8.7% year-on-year growth in August, Chinese customs office reported Monday. Imports rose just 0.3% in September.

Chinese customs officials mitted Monday that country is facing challenges, but expressed confidence in prospects for China’s foreign tre in final quarter of year.

“Currently, internal and external environments are increasingly complex, and our country’s foreign tre development is faced with some challenges. In particular, global tre protectionism is intensifying, major markets are seeing weak growth momentum and heavy debt burdens, and uncertain and unstable factors are increasing,” said Wang Lingjun, Vice Minister, General ministration of Customs, at a press briefing in Beijing.

U.S. and Europe recently raised tariffs on China’s exports of electric vehicles and or products.

Ar official at Beijing briefing criticized ditional tariffs on China’s “new three” products – electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, calling for countries doing so to abandon ir “wrong practices.”

“We think this is an act of tre protectionism, which is unfair, against rules and unreasonable, and will ultimately affect global green and low-carbon transition process,” said Lyu Daliang, spokesperson of General ministration of Customs.

“It is hoped that relevant countries will abandon ir wrong practices, seek ir own reasonable interests in common development, open up new sources for global ecomic growth and jointly respond to global challenge of climate change,” ded Lyu, without naming specific countries.