Overview

• The United States has reduced reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% and increased duties on low-value packages to 54%, signaling a temporary easing of trade tensions.
• China has spent the past seven years bolstering its economic self-sufficiency, reducing reliance on US markets and diversifying key supply chains, including rare earth materials and agriculture.
• Economist Gao Shanwen, who questioned China's official GDP and unemployment data, remains under investigation, reflecting Beijing's strict control over economic narratives.
• China accounted for over 50% of global steel output and 33.7% of automobile production in 2024, raising concerns over industrial overcapacity and its impact on global markets.
• Analysts project that China could represent 45% of global production by 2030, fueling speculation about the emergence of a 'Chinese century' and shifting global power dynamics.