beijing chinas exports fell 145 in july yearonyear while imports contracted 124 customs data showed on tuesday in the biggest decline in outbound shipments from the worlds secondlargest economy since february 2020a reuters poll of economists had forecast a 125 fall in exports and a 50 drop in importschinas economy grew at a sluggish pace in the second quarter as demand weakened at home and abroad prompting top leaders to promise further policy support at a meeting of the politburo last monththe state planner last week also said stimulus would be forthcoming but investors have so far been underwhelmed by proposals to expand consumption in the automobile real estate and services sectorsbeijing is looking for ways to boost domestic consumption without easing monetary policy too much lest it triggers large capital outflows as other major economies raise interest rates to tame soaring inflationpoor export performance is the latest sign that third quarter growth could slow further with construction manufacturing and services activity foreign direct investment and industrial profits all weakeningthat is affecting economic activity in the rest of asia south korean exports to china fell 251 in july from a year earlier the sharpest decline in three monthschinas trade surplus grew by 806 billion beating a forecast of 706 billion in the poll