Since U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on China last month, Beijing has responded in kind. But behind closed doors, Chinese officials have grown increasingly alarmed about tariffs' impact on the economy and the risk of isolation as China's trading partners have started negotiating deals with Washington,

The drop in U.S.-bound shipments was offset by a surge in Chinese goods to Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

China has rolled out a barrage of measures meant to counter the blow to its economy from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war.