Innehållsförteckning för Vol.68/No.16 från Beijing Review

The Trump administration’s “reciprocal tariff” policy, unveiled on April 2 under the banner of ensuring fair trade for the United States, has sparked strong opposition from world economies and triggered a wave of countermeasures. These recent developments have placed the U.S. economy under recessionary pressures unseen in recent decades. Tariffs have long been an inherent feature of international trade, serving as a legitimate policy tool across historical and modern societies. They are a form of agreement reached between trading nations, with the tariff rate reflecting negotiated fairness. Variations in national resource endowments, technological advancement, labor costs and other factors lead to divergent valuations of the same goods. Consequently, different tariff rates on similar commodities are a normal mechanism to approximate fairness in global trade. Beyond balancing trade equity, tariffs also…

Contents Preface I. China-US Economic and Trade Relations Are Mutually Beneficial and Win-Win in Nature II. The Chinese Side Has Scrupulously Honored the Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement III. The US Side Has Failed to Meet Its Obligations Under the Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement IV. China Upholds the Principle of Free Trade and Strictly Complies with WTO Rules V. Unilateralism and Protectionism Undermine China-US Economic and Trade Relations VI. China and the US Can Resolve Differences in Economic and Trade Areas Through Equal-Footed Dialogue and Mutually Beneficial Cooperation Conclusion Preface As the world’s largest developing country, China is also the largest contributor to annual global economic growth. As the largest developed country, the United States boasts the largest economy in the world. The China-US economic and trade…

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, unveiled in Washington, D.C. on April 2, are supposed to force a strategic realignment of global trade with the U.S. at its center. It’s a fallacious attempt to project an image of economic invulnerability, akin to a high-stakes poker player feigning four aces when he has none. Rather than succumbing to Washington’s tariffs and sanctions, it is time for the international community to adopt a coordinated, strategic response designed to quickly call Trump’s economic bluff. Central to the weakness of Trump’s hand is the interplay between tariffs, inflation and currency devaluation—a dynamic downward economic spiral that will ultimately end Trump’s protectionist putsch. A catalyst for economic instability By directly raising the cost of imported goods, tariffs function as a regressive tax on consumers and businesses.…

Under canopies of delicate pink blossoms, Yuyuantan Park in Beijing has transformed into a scene of springtime reverie, making it a must-visit attraction for many tourists. Lily Zheng, a college student studying in Zhengzhou, Henan Province in central China, visited Beijing with her friends during the Qingming Festival holiday on April 4-6. The park, with its ongoing Cherry Blossom Cultural Event, was one of their destinations. “We were attracted to the park by photos of cherry blossoms on social media platforms,” Zheng told Beijing Review. In the park, many visitors pose for photos with the floral head wreaths bought there, and enjoy flower-shaped ice creams. Travel and consumption increased throughout the country during the holiday. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 126 million domestic trips were made across…

Boosting Employment China has released new guidelines on building a high-quality system of employment services for university graduates, Xinhua News Agency reported on April 8. The policy document was jointly issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, China’s highest state administrative organ. It highlights six key areas of focus: optimizing the higher education training system, strengthening career guidance services, improving job-market and recruitment systems, enhancing support mechanisms for jobseekers in difficulty, innovating employment monitoring and evaluation tools and reinforcing support for fresh graduate employment. The document sets the goal of establishing a nationwide inclusive, well-functioning and reliable employment services network within three to five years, laying a solid foundation for graduates to find jobs. Official data…

After U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from nearly every country on April 2, reactions varied around the world. U.S. tariffs, which were slated to take effect on April 9, are now on hold for 90 days, with the exception of levies on China. While major economies like China, the EU and Canada moved quickly to prepare countermeasures, many others—though shocked—opted for negotiations over a tit-for-tat approach. Here’s how countries have responded as of April 11: China: China has strongly opposed the tariffs and vowed countermeasures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. On April 11, it announced it would raise tariffs on all imported U.S. products to 84 percent, from 34 percent six days earlier, starting on April 10. Following Trump’s threat of additional tariffs…

Recent breakthrough achievements such as the launch of DeepSeek’s revolutionary AI models and the collection of samples from the far side of the moon are indicators of just how far China has developed in science and technology. Unable to produce a car just seven decades ago, China now plans to build itself into a world leading sci-tech powerhouse by 2035. This goal is one of many in its drive to become a great nation and achieve national rejuvenation by the middle of this century. In pursuit of these goals, President Xi Jinping has called for self-reliance and self-strengthening while also remaining committed to openness and international cooperation. Beijing Review recently spoke to Gao Yi, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, to provide…

Strolling down a busy street, waiting in a parking lot or standing at the entrance of a scenic spot, many have encountered the sharp, unwelcome sting of cigarette smoke hanging heavily in the air. In March, Shanghai took steps to tackle this lingering issue by targeting “drifting smoke”—secondhand smoke in outdoor spaces, particularly in eight of the city’s most iconic tourist hubs, including Wukang Road. The initiative includes new smoke-control signs along pedestrian areas and volunteers gently reminding smokers to reconsider their habit. Rather than harsh enforcement, the city is betting on persuasion and public awareness to shift behavior. This effort opens a new chapter in China’s anti-smoking campaign. In 2011, the country implemented a nationwide indoor smoking ban in public spaces. Now, the focus is expanding outdoors. Wang Bin…