In the first quarter of this year, the Chinese economy recorded higher growth than expected - according to official data from Beijing, the increase was 5.4 percent compared to last year. Exports also increased in the same period.
In early April, Donald Trump raised tariffs on the People's Republic to 145%. But will they really affect the economy or, on the contrary, will the American president make China "great again"?
Export growth in March
China's exports in March grew surprisingly much, ZDF reported - by 12.4 percent compared to the same month in 2024. Apparently, these are goods ordered urgently before Trump announced the tariff increase.
The vice chairman of China's National Bureau of Statistics, Sheng Laiyun, said that the start is good and demand has increased. Analysts had previously forecast growth of 5.2 percent.
China is ready to respond
For 2025, Beijing has again set ambitious growth targets of five percent - despite the trade conflict with the United States that escalated in April.
"We categorically reject trade protectionism", Sheng was quoted by ARD. "This is a self-destructive action that hinders the global economy." The tariffs would have a short-term effect, but would not change the long-term positive trend of China's development, he said.
Sheng added that the authorities are ready to take "various measures" to ensure price stability and promote employment.
Hong Kong stops sending goods to the US
In the context of the trade dispute, Hong Kong has stopped sending goods to the US, ARD reported. The post offices in the special administrative region announced that "they will categorically not collect tariffs on behalf of the US and will stop accepting postal items destined for the US".
This is a reaction to the "forceful" increase in tariffs by US President Donald Trump. Initially, this provision will apply to land shipments, and from April 27 it will also apply to air shipments. Shipments containing only documents, but not goods, will not be affected.
China wants to expand its trading partners
The World Trade Organization warns that the tariff war could lead to an 80 percent collapse in trade between the United States and China. The effect will likely be felt in Europe as well. The United States and China are Germany's most important trading partners, ARD points out.
ZDF, for its part, points out that while the American government is breaking alliances and creating uncertainty in the markets, the Chinese government will apparently take advantage of the favorable moment to start trade negotiations with the EU and redirect commodity flows to the European market.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Beijing intends to expand its trading partners and attract more investment to the country. To this end, Xi Jinping plans to visit three Asian countries in the coming days - Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. "Trade wars and tariffs know no winners", he wrote before the trip. Trump imposed tariffs of 49%, 46% and 24% on the three countries, respectively, before freezing them for 90 days.
Weak demand holds back the economy
However, observers believe that economic growth will weaken in the second quarter. So far, the Chinese government has tried, among other things, to stimulate consumption with a program to replace old appliances and cars with new ones.
China has long struggled with weak demand, deflationary pressures and a real estate crisis, which are hindering economic development, ARD summarizes.