An American business group said that Chinese officials had been surveying companies about American products that are crucial to their supply chains.

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 imposed 125% tariffs on all U.S. imports earlier this month in a tit-for-tat response to the Trump administration’s “reciprocal” tariffs against China.