China's trade surplus with the US narrowed slightly in July

China's trade surplus only narrowed slightly in July from the record highs seen in June. 

The world's second-largest economy logged a $28.1 billion surplus last month after reporting a record $28.9 billion in June. 

The slight drop in the trade surplus is unlikely to ease tensions with the US, which is scheduled to slap 25 percent tariff on $16 billion worth of Chinese imports from August 23, having imposed l25 percent levy on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods on July 6.