Chinese growth slowed slightly in the second quarter as the world's number two economy faced a snowballing trade fight with the United States. The economy expanded by 6.7 per cent in April-June, down from 6.8 per cent in the first quarter and in line with a 6.7 per cent rate tipped in an AFP survey of economists. Despite the quarterly deceleration, growth was still higher than the annual target of around 6.5 per cent set by the government. China faced an "extremely complex environment both at home and abroad", said Mao Shengyong, a spokesman for the national statistics bureau. The impact of the deepening trade conflict with the United States was yet to fully kick in, according to analysts, who added that Beijing's battle to rein in pollution and spiralling debt levels had crimped growth.
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