United States exports to China, which have been growing in recent years, increased 4.5 percent in June, narrowing the trade deficit between the world's two largest economies, according to US Commerce Department figures released on Tuesday.

Exports to China - one of the fastest-growing markets for US goods - were up 4.2 percent for the first half, the new data show.

US exports to the European Union, however, only rose 1.5 percent in June, with first-half exports to the EU down 5.5 percent.