Levers still to pull: China's economy

① President Donald Trump's threat of tariffs looms ever larger over China.

② But data today will show that the world's second-biggest economy is in good shape on the eve of what could be a protracted trade war.

③ Inflation numbers for April are likely to have remained low and stable, giving the central bank scope for delivering a monetary boost if tensions with America cut into growth.

④ For now, that is not needed.

⑤ Exports have remained resilient.

⑥ And numbers next week will point to robust growth in retail sales and factory output.

⑦ Still, China's leaders are not taking any chances.

⑧ Liu He, a senior economic official, will visit Washington next week to continue talks that began earlier this month in Beijing; competition between the two powers is only heating up.

⑨ China could survive a trade brawl with America.

⑩ But averting one would be even better.

▍生词好句

lever /ˈliːvə/: n. 施压的手段；杠杆；控制杆

tariff /ˈtarɪf/: n. 关税

loom /luːm/: vi.（威胁性的人/事物）逐渐逼近

be in good shape/condition: 状况良好

on the eve of /iːv/: 在……前夜

protract /prəˈtrakt/: vt. 拖长；拉长……的时间

protracted /prəˈtraktɪd/: adj. 旷日持久的；拖延的

inflation /ɪnˈfleɪʃ(ə)n/: n. 通货膨胀

monetary /ˈmʌnɪt(ə)ri/: adj. 货币的

cut into: 减少

resilient /rɪˈzɪlɪənt/: adj. 有弹性的（复原能力很强的）

take chances: 冒险

brawl /brɔːl/: n./vi. 斗殴；打架

avert /əˈvəːt/: vt. 防止

▍补充

1. Archimedes

"Give me a lever long enough, and a fulcrum on which to place it and I shall move the world."

2. ever

His performance in the class grows ever more impressive.

The nuclear war is an ever-present threat.