Reality of Trump’s Tariffs Hits German Trade Data: Supply Lines

While economic data in the US are in short supply because of the government shutdown, releases from the world’s third-largest export power continue to show what impact President Donald Trump’s tariffs are having across the world.

On Thursday, trade data from Germany provided more evidence of the plight faced by Europe’s biggest economy, which has traditionally relied on manufacturers with global reach to drive growth.

The value of German exports unexpectedly dropped 0.5% in August, the month following the US trade deal with the European Union. Economists polled by Bloomberg had predicted a small gain. Shipments to the US suffered ...