Are these Chinese export numbers an olive branch in the countdown to a trade war with the US?

China’s customs agency broke with protocol late on Monday, releasing first-half and June export data days ahead of schedule and giving a rare breakdown for shipments to the United States.

In a brief statement, the General Administration of Customs said growth in China’s US-bound shipments slowed to 5.4 per cent in the first six months from 19.3 per cent a year earlier. June export growth was even slower at 3.8 per cent, down 23.8 percentage points from the same time in 2017, the administration said.

China’s exports of electronics and mechanical products to the US grew 8 per cent year on year in the first half, accounting for 62.6 per cent of the total shipments. Shipments of labour-intensive products were flat in the same period, while garment sales dropped 1.8 per cent.

The administration rarely releases country-specific export data ahead of the overall monthly trade data. It is scheduled to release China’s June imports and exports figures on July 13 as well as the exact value of the country’s trade with its major trading partners, including the US.

The preliminary release of the US number came ahead of the day Beijing and Washington are expected to impose tariffs on each other’s goods.

The US is scheduled to impose a 25 per cent tariff on US$34 billion worth of Chinese products on Friday, and China has threatened to retaliate in a tit-for-tat manner.