China’s economy grew 5.4% year-on-year in the first quarter, data showed on Wednesday (April 16, 2025), beating expectations, but an escalating trade war with the United States has darkened the outlook and raised pressure on Beijing<\/a> to roll out more stimulus.<\/p>\n Analysts polled by Reuters<\/i> had expected first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) to expand 5.1% from a year earlier, slowing from 5.4% in the previous three months.<\/p>\n Beijing is aiming for economic growth of “around 5%” this year, a goal analysts say is ambitious given a protracted property downturn, sluggish domestic demand and U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n