China’s GDP Growth Grinds to Near 30-Year Low as Tariffs Hit Production

Workers look at cranes lifting containers onto cargo vessels at a port in Yantai, Shandong Province, China on Oct. 17, 2019. Reuters

BEIJING—China’s third-quarter economic growth slowed more than expected and to its weakest pace in almost three decades as the bruising Sino-U.S. trade war hit factory production, boosting the case for Beijing to roll out fresh support.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose just 6.0 percent year-on-year, marking a further loss of momentum for the economy from the second quarter’s 6.2 percent growth.