Germany raises growth forecast for 2017 exports, imports - goverment source

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany expects both exports and imports to grow faster this year than previously forecast, a government source told Reuters on Tuesday, providing an optimistic outlook despite fears of protectionism under U.S. President Donald Trump.

The source in the right-left ruling coalition said the government expected exports to grow 2.8 percent in 2017, up from a previous forecast of 2.1 percent.

Imports are forecast to grow by 3.8 percent, up from a previous estimate of 3 percent.

(Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Andrea Shalal)