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China economy

China economy
Breaking news and analysis on China’s economy, including its opening up, the US-China trade war, the impact of tariffs and trade talks, growth rates and other key economic data, the Belt and Road Initiative, and Greater Bay Area plan.
US President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

China says US agreed to a maximum tariff rate. Could the trade war be waning?

Beijing says Washington agreed to keep future trade levies at numbers set in trade talks last year.

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China exports

Japanese firms warn of ‘severe’ magnet shortages as China’s exports remain low

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China-EU relations

Chinese investment in Europe surges to 7-year high despite rising trade tensions

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Belt and Road Initiative

China’s BeiDou leads GPS, other rivals across belt and road network: report

Products and services compatible with China’s navigation system have captured 58 per cent market share in countries in the trade initiative.

A worker produces intelligent central control navigation products at BeiDou Zhilian (Jiangsu) Technology’s factory in Suqian, Jiangsu province, last month. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
China energy security

Putin is pushing for a ‘serious’ new energy deal in China. Will he get it?

The Russian leader arrives in China days after Trump in search of an energy deal, with yuan settlements, pricing potentially on the table.

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US-China relations

Opinion | Despite summit pledges, don’t expect US-China trade to improve

The near-term trajectory of China-US economic ties rests on several key timelines, any of which could trigger new tensions.

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Yuan

China’s US Treasuries slump may not be what it seems

A reduction in China’s direct holdings of US government debt may be partly offset by the nation holding Treasuries via third parties.

Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Chinese premier urges faster, broader adoption of AI in advanced manufacturing

Premier Li Qiang says boosting AI-powered manufacturing can help drive new growth for the economy.

China-EU relations

Chinese companies in Hungary scramble to adjust to post-Orban era

BYD tells builders of Hungarian factory to abide by labour laws as new government adopts stricter approach to foreign investment.

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China-EU relations

China’s firms in Europe chose to save on legal services. Will it cost them?

Chinese companies, often reluctant to pay for legal services, are encountering greater compliance issues as they expand into a stricter EU.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China manufacturing

China’s old ‘Motown’, Shanghai bets on robotaxis, better batteries to bump GDP

City authorities point at the need to lure foreign firms, while emerging sectors are expected to generate a trillion-yuan boost over the next 5 years.

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Pony AI’s robotaxi is seen on a Shanghai road. Photo: Weibo
Yuan

China joins global sell-off of US Treasuries in March as Iran war prompts panic

Seven of the top 10 foreign holders cut their exposure to US government debt, led by Japan, which offloaded US$47.7 billion.

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Yuan

As China’s yuan hits multi-year highs, Beijing puts the focus on stability

China’s top foreign exchange regulator said in an article that authorities would seek to keep the yuan ‘basically stable’.

Rare earths

Australia to force investors with China ties to divest from rare earths company

The company will force divestment from two individuals and four companies due to Chinese affiliation.

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Northern Minerals is developing a heavy rare earths project in Western Australia, at a time when the sector has become increasingly strategic for its uses in green energy and defence. Photo: Handout
China consumption

China’s unexpected retail slowdown shows Hormuz strains

Retail sales growth slumped in April, industrial output cooled and fixed-asset investments tumbled as high oil prices hit China’s economy.

Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Science

China’s northeast, poor in rare earths, scores big find

A new type of deposit in Heilongjiang and Jilin promises easier, cheaper mining than in southern clay-rich areas, say scientists.

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China manufacturing

China’s economy ‘weaker than expected’ in April as Iran war headwinds bite

China’s retail sales growth fell to just 0.2 per cent in April, while industrial output and fixed-asset investment softened more than forecast.

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Banking & finance

Resilient economy lifts Chinese banks, but property debt drags, experts say

Steady growth and stabilising China-US ties support banks, with PBOC expected to keep rates steady, according to economists.

There is a high probability China will meet its annual growth target of 4.5 to 5 per cent, according to an economist. Photo: EPA
Aviation

Locked out of Russia, could Japan’s airlines face new risk in Chinese skies?

Pilots say such a move would mark a major escalation of retribution for Japanese PM’s remarks on Taiwan.

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China’s private sector

‘Explosive’: why China’s gold recycling industry is growing at record speed

More than half of the country’s gold recycling firms are less than three years old.

Transport and logistics

China’s up-and-coming cities plan second airports as competition soars

Emerging economic centres are looking to broaden their aviation networks as local governments seek greater international, regional connectivity.

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Passengers at Beijing Daxing International Airport in 2023. The second major airport in China’s capital city opened in 2019. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summit

China, US agree to establish trade, investment councils after Xi-Trump summit

The world’s two biggest economies also agree to roll back tariffs, deepen investment and establish a new board to manage disputes.

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President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for US President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit to China, outside the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing on May 14. Photo: Xinhua
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Bought the farm? Details still fuzzy on scope of US-China agriculture deal

China granted five-year export licenses to 77 US beef facilities, while renewing expired licenses of 425 other plants for another five years.

China’s film industry

How a tiny indie movie sparked a major tourist boom in southern China

Made on a shoestring budget, the hit drama Dear You has triggered a surge of interest in the history of southern China’s Teochew diaspora.

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2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump and his CEOs want China’s business – but has Asia moved on?

The US delegation went to Beijing looking for deals, but a ‘super cycle’ of capital expenditures across Asia is already fuelling enormous growth.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
US-China tech war

Trump, Xi weigh AI ‘guardrails’ as Nvidia chip exports hang in the balance

Meeting in Beijing, the presidents weighed safety protocols for the rapidly emerging technology, and H200 chip shipments were a ‘sovereign decision’ for ‌China.

Billionaire Elon Musk gestures after attending a welcome ceremony for US President Donald Trump with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump, touting deal, says China to buy 200 Boeing jets with promise for more

After leaving Beijing, the US president announced a pledge to buy at least 200 jets, and up to 750 under certain conditions.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers hunt for idled plants in Europe as they expand global influence

BYD, the world’s largest electric car maker, says it is in talks with Stellantis about using European marques’ idled assembly facilities.

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