China seeks to 'tariff-proof' economy as trade war with U.S. deepens

Beijing has vowed to "fight to the end" against Trump's aggressive trade policy, with number two leader Li Qiang saying authorities were "fully confident" in the resilience of the Chinese economy. "The Chinese economy has been significantly weakened since Trump's first term and can't really withstand the impact of sustained high tariffs," said Henry Gao, an expert on the Chinese economy and international trade law. However, a weekend editorial in the Communist Party-backed People's Daily described the tariffs as a "strategic opportunity" for China to cement consumption as the main driver of economic growth.