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MNI: Impact from Sino-US Trade Row Controllable: China Customs

     BEIJING (MNI) - BEIJING (MNI) - A Chinese customs official on Friday
downplayed the impact from the country's trade spat with the U.S. even as he
predicted a slowdown in exports. 
     The ongoing trade frictions have had some "troubles and impact," but the
direct and indirect influences are "basically under control," the General
Administration of Customs spokesman and the director of its statistical analysis
division Li Kuiwen said at a conference in Beijing.
Still, exports in the fourth quarter may slow because of the trade row, in
addition to slower growth in external economies, Li said without giving
estimates.
     China has advantages in manufacturing and infrastructure layout, while the
U.S. market has a strong dependence on Chinese-made products, so the two
economies are mutually dependent, Li added. 
     --BIGGER TRADE SURPLUS 
     Chinese exports to the U.S. in September rose about 14% on year to USD46.69
billion, while imports from the U.S. fell 1.3% y/y to USD12.56 billion, customs
data released today show. Trade surplus rose to USD34.13 billion from $31.05
billion in August.
     The U.S. is the second-largest trading partner of China, and the two-way
trade between the two economies took up 13.8% of China's total foreign imports
and exports in the first three quarters, Li said.
     The slowdown will come on the backdrop of a potential slowdown of the
global economy, said Li. The International Monetary Fund this month cut the 
forecast for global growth in both 2018 and 2019 to 3.7%, 0.2% down from a July
forecast.
     Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump agreed
to meet at next month's G20 summit in Buenos Aires in hopes of resolving the
increasing trade conflict. 
--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com
--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com
[TOPICS: MAQDS$,MDQCB$,M$A$$$,M$Q$$$,MI$$$$,MT$$$$,MGQ$$$]

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