* Broad based losses push Australian shares lower.
* Mining stocks account for most losses on the ASX
* China trade data for June in focus
By Aditya Soni
July 12 (Reuters) - Australian shares gave up ground on Friday, with China-sensitive mining stocks leading the losses after trade tensions between the world's two largest economies escalated overnight.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index slid .AXJO 0.2% or 14.7 points to 6,701.4 by 0204 GMT. The benchmark firmed 0.4% on Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that China was not living up to promises it made on buying agricultural products from American farmers, in a sign that the two sides are far from resolving a year-long trade war that has battered equities and impacted global growth.
"Post G20, people were hoping that the trade war situation had gone away. But it does feel like if Trump starts his tweeting storms again, there is risk to the downside," Damian Rooney, director of equity sales at Argonaut said.
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed at a G20 meeting in late June on a trade ceasefire to open the door for a resumption of negotiations, but existing tariffs remain in place and the two sides are believed to be still far apart on some key issues.
Mining stocks .AXMM fell sharply and bore the brunt of the losses on the benchmark.
The world's biggest miner BHP Group Ltd BHP.AX was down 1%, while its rival Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX slid 1.4%.
Both firms are slated to report their quarterly production next week, with figures likely to reflect the impact of disruptions caused by a cyclone in late March.
Investors were also cautious ahead of release of Chinese trade data later in the day. A Reuters poll predicted that its exports likely fell in June as weakening global demand and a sharp hike in U.S. tariffs weighed more heavily on the world's largest economy. stocks .AXGD saw their worst day in one and a half weeks after recording sharp gains in the previous session.
The miners of the precious metal were also pressured by an ease in gold prices. GOL/
Regis Resources Ltd RRL.AX fell as much as 5.1 %, its sharpest drop in over three-weeks and was among the worst performers on the benchmark.
The country's fourth-largest firm, CSL Ltd CSL.AX , dipped 0.8%, pulling health care stocks lower.
However, Oil Search Ltd OSH.AX climbed as much as 3.1% to a seven-week high and was among the top gainers on the benchmark.
The Australian reported https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/dataroom/santos-mulls-oil-search-takeover/news-story/7b9f6fb1d74c1871a6f5cce6fcbc6cc1 on Friday that Santos STO.AX could be considering an acquisition of its $7.6 billion rival Oil Search.
Santos said it does not comment on market speculation.
Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 slipped 0.3% or 30.26 points to 10,657.06. The index closed at its highest ever level on Thursday.
Utilities accounted for most of the losses, with benchmark heavyweight Meridian Energy Ltd MEL.NZ falling 1.4%, while Mercury NZ Ltd MCY.NZ saw its sharpest fall since July 3.