International Trade

The U.S. merchandise-trade deficit widened to a record in September while orders for business equipment declined for a second month, adding to signs that an escalating tariff war is starting to constrain economic growth.

A group of global trade chiefs are meeting to start setting a reform agenda for the World Trade Organization, though it’s unclear how far they can take the effort with the U.S. and China excluded from talks.

The airline industry should prepare for chaos if no trade agreement is signed in the coming weeks for the U.K.’s planned split from the European Union, the head of the sector’s trade body has warned.

U.S. companies are scrambling to line up factories and suppliers outside of China as the trade war hikes the cost of importing everything from furniture to toilet paper. But for some products, it’s not that easy.