Bilateral trade between major trading partners shifted unexpectedly—after years of growth surge, recent figures show a 6.5% year-over-year decline to 1.63 trillion yuan ($234 billion). This marks the first contraction in half a decade. The pullback reflects cooling momentum across both import and export sides. For traders tracking macro headwinds, this data matters: global trade deceleration often signals shifts in risk appetite, currency flows, and capital reallocation—all factors influencing digital asset markets. When traditional economies slow, market participants recalibrate their exposure across asset classes.