Overview

• Official data show GDP rose 4.7% year over year in Q3 2025 but fell 5.2% from the previous quarter, with the weakest retail and industrial readings of the year.
• Foreign direct investment declined nearly 13% in the first eight months of 2025, risking a third consecutive annual drop if the pace continues.
• U.S. export controls introduced in 2022 and expanded in December 2024 now restrict advanced chips including high‑bandwidth memory essential for AI.
• The European Union imposed higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, adding to external pressures as Beijing pursues state‑led industrial expansion.
• China has leaned more on Dutch semiconductor‑related supplies, revealing a key chokepoint as tariff threats and reversals from President Donald Trump have disrupted markets.