Trade data from China on Tuesday showed a sharp drop in the value of both imports and exports, amplifying concerns about ripple effects from the country’s economic slowdown into developed economies.

周二公布的贸易数据显示，8月份中国进口额和出口额双双下降，这让人们更加担忧中国经济放缓可能在发达经济体引发连锁效应。

Decelerating economic growth not only means China is buying less from overseas but reaping less money from its shipments too, as prices fall and buyers in markets such as Europe and Japan curb purchases.

经济增长放缓不但意味着中国从海外进口更少，还意味着随着价格下跌和欧洲、日本等市场的消费者减少消费，中国从出口中赚到的利润也更少。

The value of imports fell 14.3 per cent year-on-year in renminbi terms in August, a steeper decline than July’s 8.6 per cent fall, the 10th consecutive fall and the worst showing since May.

以人民币计，8月份中国进口额同比下降了14.3%，远高于7月份8.6%的降幅。这是进口额连续第10个月下降，也是自今年5月以来的最大降幅。

Exports dropped a more modest 6.1 per cent from a year ago, against an 8.9 per cent drop in July. As a result, the trade surplus jumped nearly 40 per cent month-on-month to Rmb368bn ($57.8bn), just below the Rmb370bn record set in February.

出口额同比降低6.1%，降幅没有那么大，低于7月份8.9%的降幅。其结果是，8月份贸易顺差环比增加了近40%，至3680亿元人民币（合578亿美元），略低于2月份创下的3700亿元人民币的纪录。

“The August data followed the trend set in July,” said Ma Guangyuan, an independent Chinese economist. “Now the global slowdown has very much become a reality.”

“8月份的数据延续了7月份的趋势，”中国独立经济学家马光远表示，“如今，全球放缓已在很大程度上变成了现实。”