EM ASIA FX-Asian currencies slide as U.S. unveils more China tariffs

* Markets await China's response to latest U.S. tariff

threat

* Yuan comes under pressure, spills over to regional peers

* Malaysian c.bank seen standing pat on interest rates

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Nikhil Nainan

July 11 (Reuters) - Asian emerging market currencies

retreated on Wednesday after the United States threatened to

slap tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.

Investors fear the escalating trade war between the world's

two biggest economies could hit global growth after the Trump

administration raised the stakes overnight, announcing fresh

tariffs just days after the last measures took effect on Friday.

China's commerce ministry said it was "shocked" by the

latest U.S. action and would complain to the World Trade

Organisation, but did not immediately say how it would

retaliate.

"Of course, nothing is written in stone, and the tariffs are

not set to take effect until September. But none the less, this

is a very sobering reality check as to just how fragile

sentiment around trade war rhetoric is and should keep markets

trading defensively during Asia," said Stephen Innes, head of

trading APAC at Oanda.

The news prompted a broad based sell-off in Chinese assets,

with the yuan weakenning 0.4 percent to 6.664 to the

dollar while equity markets tumbled around 2 percent.

Investors are worried that the trade row will add pressure

to the already slowing Chinese economy. Trump had warned that he

may ultimately impose tariffs on more than $500 billion worth of

Chinese imports, roughly the total amount of U.S. imports from

China last year.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback

against a basket of six major currencies was up 0.1 percent to

94.238.

As a major trading partner in the region, "it comes as no

surprise that with fresh selling pressure on the RMB, we are

also seeing some spillovers in the Asian currency space as

well," said Wei Liang Chang, a FX strategist at Mizuho Bank.

He added that currencies that were sensitive to movements in

the yuan, such as the South Korean won, Singapore

dollar and Taiwan dollar, were also under

pressure.

The won lost the most in the region, falling 0.4 percent,

while the Singapore and Taiwan dollars weakened 0.2 percent

each.

MALAYSIAN C.BANK LIKELY TO HOLD RATES

Malaysian ringgit slipped 0.1 percent to 4.025 per

dollar, hours before Bank Negara Malaysia's policy meeting where

interest rates are expected to remain unchanged.

The meeting marks Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus' first as

governor, with market players watching closely for any clues on

whether she shifts her stance from that of her predecessor.

"The markets will be more focused on forward guidance. Given

the political and fiscal struggles ahead, I think it's easy to

assume this will not be a hawkish pause," Oanda's Innes said.

The ringgit has gained for four straight sessions in the

build up to the meeting and has outperformed its Southeast Asian

peers, amid an exodus from emerging markets as rising trade

tensions have turned investors risk-averse.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Change on the day at 0533 GMT

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 111.060 110.98 -0.07

Sing dlr 1.359 1.3568 -0.17

Taiwan dlr 30.460 30.403 -0.19

Korean won 1120.800 1116 -0.43

Baht 33.260 33.165 -0.29

Peso 53.508 53.431 -0.14

Rupiah 14390.000 14355 -0.24

Rupee 68.850 68.83 -0.04

Ringgit 4.025 4.02 -0.12

Yuan 6.664 6.6405 -0.35

Change so far in 2018

Currency Latest bid End 2017 Pct Move

Japan yen 111.060 112.67 +1.45

Sing dlr 1.359 1.3373 -1.60

Taiwan dlr 30.460 29.848 -2.01

Korean won 1120.800 1070.50 -4.49

Baht 33.260 32.58 -2.04

Peso 53.508 49.977 -6.60

Rupiah 14390.000 13565 -5.73

Rupee 68.850 63.87 -7.23

Ringgit 4.025 4.0440 +0.47

Yuan 6.664 6.5069 -2.36

(Reporting by Nikhil Kurian Nainan in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim

Coghill)