Bangkok (AP) – Chinese manufacturers reported an increase in orders in February when importers hurried to defeat higher American rates imposed by President Donald Trump, as a Chinese state media report said that Beijing was considering taking revenge.
Trump has previously imposed a rate of 10% on imports from China and that will rise to 20% from Tuesday. He also ended the “De Minimis” -Maas in the praise that the import of less than $ 800 of rates exempted, in one fell swoop for companies whose online sale has risen directly to consumers in recent years.
The Global Times, a newspaper from the ruling communist party of China, said on Monday that Beijing studied rates and non-Tariff movements to combat Trump’s higher rates.
Asked for that report, said spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lin Jian that “China will take all the necessary measures to firmly protect their own legitimate rights and interests.”
“American agricultural and foods will most likely be mentioned,” said it, with reference to an unnamed source. Last week, officials from the Chinese Trade Ministerie said that the two parties had a “dialogue” about trade.
The stronger than expected data came when Chinese leaders gathered in Beijing for the annual session of the National People’s Congress. As usual, the laws are expected to endorse the policy and priorities of the prevailing communist party, including some new help for the economy, because it slows down the annual growth that many economists predict this year will fall to around 4.5%.
Factory managers surveys showed that the official purchasing managers -Index of China rose to 50.2% of 49% in January, Although that was just above the 50 level that marks the interruption between contraction and expansion. The new order index rose to 51.1.
Steady Industrial Production suggests that government spending and “front -running” to beat the higher rates, supported the stronger business activities last month, said hurt Huang of Capital Economics in a report.
“But the growth is still looking at the risk of slowing down this quarter, at least partly to return the pick-up in Q4 (October-December). And that is before the hit of rates is seriously felt, “wrote Huang.
Another investigation that was released on Monday, the Caixin Manufacturing PMI survey, showed a similar improvement. That survey tends to show trends in smaller and export -oriented companies, said Lynne Song of ING Economics in a comment.
“This can be a valuable meter for the impact that new rates have on the production sector. With an extra rate of 10% to get into force tomorrow, this seems likely, “she said.
Suddenly Increases from rates And other factors have increased uncertainty about the prospects for the second largest economy in the world, which grew on one 5% annual pace Last year, just achieve the official target of Beijing.
Prime Minister Li Qiang will present an annual work report to the congress, because it will open on Wednesday that traditionally offers the annual growthotum for this year, in addition to other policy measures and economic updates.
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2025 is the last year of leader Xi Jinping’s “Made in China 2025” Blueprint for upgrading Chinese industries to become world leaders in advanced technology. It also marks the end of China’s 14th five -year plan, the traditional medium policy institution of the party.
An important priority is likely to describe ways to allow Chinese consumers to spend more, a weak point in the economy dominated by the State after the disruptions of the COVID-19 Pandemie. In recent months, the government has gone more support for private industry as part of that effort. Export and targeted expenses Increases have also helped.