China manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff war

<p>Index of activity drops to lowest reading since December 2023 as a result of ‘sharp changes’ in international trading </p><p>China’s factory activity slowed in April, with Beijing blaming “sharp changes” in the global economy as it fights a mounting trade war with the United States.</p><p>Punishing US tariffs that reached 145% on many Chinese products came into force in April, and Beijing responded with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/macron-speaks-of-90-days-of-uncertainty-as-trump-tariffs-spark-further-losses">125% duties</a> on imports from the US. Chinese exports soared more than 12% last month as businesses rushed to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/22/trump-china-tariffs">get ahead of the punishing tariffs</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/30/china-manufacturing-activity-plummets-amid-trump-tariff-war">Continue reading...</a>