China’s economy grew by 5.4% in the first quarter year-on-year as a tit-for-tat trade war with US President Donald Trump escalates
The numbers beat expectations but this data covers a period before US tariffs on Chinese-made goods jumped from 10% to 145%
Some of the growth could be down to factories ramping up exports before tariffs spiked, known as “front loading”, writes our Asia business reporter Suranjana Tewari
China has retaliated with 125% levies for US goods entering China
The world’s second biggest economy is still bracing for the full impact of the levies as it continues to struggle with slow growth
Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Malaysia, as part of a tour of South East Asia to shore up alliances with key trading partners
Last week, Trump announced a 90-day pause on higher tariffs on all countries – except China
Source: BBC
