Chinese officials yesterday did not repeat a previous pledge to respond in kind to new US tariffs looming next month, in a sign that Beijing might be softening its stance in its ongoing trade war with the US.

Analysts say one reason for China's calm response to President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on US$200 billion (S$272 billion) worth of Chinese goods could be China's huge trade surplus with the country. Beijing could no longer match Washington dollar-for-dollar in tariff action, they say.

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