China has exempted some U.S. imports from its 125% tariffs and is asking firms to identify critical goods they need levy-free, according to businesses notified, in the clearest sign yet of Beijing's concerns about the trade war's economic fallout.

China's firm opposition and countermeasures to the United States' (U.S.) so-called "reciprocal tariffs" are aimed not only at safeguarding its own national interests, but also at defending the multilateral trading system and upholding international justice, said Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Zheng Zeguang on Thursday.

It now sees Singapore economy growing 2 per cent, down from its previous forecast of 2.5 per cent. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.