China’s economy slows in Q1

China's economy slowed slightly in the first quarter as the government battles debt and financial risk, with US trade frictions threatening to further hobble growth, analysts surveyed by AFP said.

The world's second largest economy is expected to have grown 6.7 percent in the January to March period, down from 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, according to the poll of 13 economists ahead of the release of official figures on Tuesday, reports AFP from Beijing.

Analysts link the deceleration to Beijing's efforts to rein in the country's massive debt pile and financial hazards, as well as a slowing property market.

Fears of a trade war with the US have also roiled markets in recent weeks, with Washington and Beijing exchanging warnings of tit-for-tat tariffs on a significant portion of their bilateral trade.

But the tensions -- stoked by US President Donald Trump's threat last week to target an additional $100 billion in Chinese goods -- have yet to cause real harm to the economy, analysts say.

 

Chinas economy slows in Q1

Chinas economy slowed slightly in the first quarter as the government battles debt and financial risk, with US trade frictions threatening to further hobble growth, analysts surveyed by AFP said. The worlds second largest economy is expected to have grown 6.7 percent in the January to March period, down from 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, according to the poll of 13 economists ahead of the release of official figures on Tuesday, reports AFP from Beijing. Analysts link the deceleration to Beijings efforts to rein in the countrys massive debt pile and financial hazards, as well as a slowing property market. Fears of a trade war with the US have also roiled markets in recent weeks, with Washington and Beijing exchanging warnings of tit-for-tat tariffs on a significant portion of their bilateral trade. But the tensions -- stoked by US President Donald Trumps threat last week to target an additional $100 billion in Chinese goods -- have yet to cause real harm to the economy, analysts say.