Xi’s Growth Goal Will Need Big Stimulus If Trade War Escalates

President Xi Jinping signaled China’s determination to push ahead with an ambitious growth goal this year, despite the trade war. If Donald Trump boosts tariffs further, analysts say Beijing will need to unleash big stimulus to hit the target.

China announced an expansion target of about 5% for 2025 at its annual parliamentary session Wednesday, marking the first time in more than a decade Beijing had set the same goal for three straight years. That resolve to put a floor under growth came less than a day after Trump hiked fresh blanket US tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%, with more levies looking inevitable.