As Donald Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” for announcing “reciprocal” tariffs on America’s trading partners approaches, the question in Beijing is whether this will be the moment when its nascent trade war with the US really escalates.

Merchants purchase goods at China Yiwu International Trade City, in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, on Feb. 9, 2025. Editor at Large Christmas comes early to Yiwu, a bustling entrepôt just a couple hours by train from China’s coastal megacity of Shanghai.

China's factory activity expanded at its fastest pace in four months in March, buoyed by stronger demand and robust export orders, a private-sector survey showed on Tuesday, although the escalating U.

China’s factory activity expanded at the fastest pace in a year in March, welcome news for the world’s No. 2 economy before expected US tariffs that could further strain trade ties.

Chinese policymakers pledged to step up stimulus push to achieve a growth target of "around 5%" this year and cushion the impact of an escalating trade war.