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\n<\/div>\nChinese exports saw the steepest fall in three years in February, adding to worries about growth in the world’s second largest economy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Official data show exports from China plunged 20.7% from a year earlier, as its trade war with the US took a toll.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Imports fell 5.2% and the figures sent Asia stock markets sharply lower.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Economists caution the data for the first two months of the year can be affected by the Lunar New Year holiday.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The fall in exports was far bigger than the 4.8% drop forecast in a Reuters poll of economists.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Imports also saw a sharper than expected fall of 5.2% year-on-year, the data showed.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Julian Evans-Pritchard, Senior China Economist at Capital Economics said even accounting for seasonal distortions, the figures were “downbeat”.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “Tariffs are weighing on shipments to the US,” he wrote in a research note.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The US and China have\u00a0placed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of one another’s goods since July,\u00a0casting a shadow over the global economy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Even though officials have sounded more positive about negotiations with the US recently, failure to achieve a deal would see tariffs on $200bn (\u00a3152bn) of Chinese goods rise almost immediately and could see the US impose fresh tariffs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Still, Mr Evans-Pritchard said “broader weakness in global demand means that, even if Trump and Xi finalise a trade deal soon, the outlook for exports remains gloomy.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The data comes as Beijing this week\u00a0unveiled $298bn worth of tax cuts\u00a0to boost slowing growth.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n