Looming U.S. tariffs, together with a real estate market slump feeding into weakening consumer confidence, saw China's GDP growth slow in the second quarter.

Growth was supported by a surge of exports from Chinese manufacturers, as customers and producers alike took advantage of the U.S.-China trade war ceasefire.

China's trade surplus surged in June, which analysts have attributed to exporters rushing to ship products before U.S. tariffs recommence.