China's export growth slowed to 7.2% in July from a year earlier, easing from an 11.3% rise in June, Reuters reported Aug. 8, citing official data.

Imports rose 11%, down from a 17.2% rise in the previous month.

This gave China a trade surplus of $46.74 billion in July, the highest since January, and above June's $42.77 billion. The July trade figures are preliminary, said Reuters.

China's trade surplus with the U.S. rose 5.9% in the first seven months of 2017 to $142.75 billion compared to the year-ago period.

The trade surplus with the U.S. was $25.2 billion in July, almost unchanged from June's $25.4 billion, said the Reuters report.