<h1>Exports up 4.4% in August to $321.8B, imports up 1.8%; eight-month trade surplus hits $785.3B amid tariffs</h1> The country's exports rose 4.4% in August to $321.8 billion, slowing from July's 7.2% gain, while imports increased 1.8% to $219.5 billion, leaving an $785.3 billion trade surplus for the first eight months. Tariff measures imposed by a major economy and retaliatory duties by this country have dampened two-way trade: exports to that major economy fell 33% to $47.3 billion and imports from it dropped 16% to $13.4 billion. Exports to a regional trading bloc rose 10.4% to $46.8 billion. Rare earth shipments rose month-on-month but were down 25.6% year-on-year.