The last U.S. trade data to be published before the general elections in November shows that international trade activity dropped for a 12th straight month in August with a 12.9% year over year slide. The trade deficit is a key metric previously cited by President Trump as a sign of whether trade policy is proving successful (a lower deficit) or not (a higher deficit). In August it reached $67.1 billion, the highest since at least 2008. Exports of both services and goods have been weak. Exports to the EU and Mexico / Canada declined by 16.0% and 15.8% respectively in August, suggesting t...