Afterword | Zero tariffs or erratic tariff threats: who is driving global growth?

China's weighted real GDP growth rate is expected to grow by 5 percent, according to a recent report by the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Amid such growth, China has granted zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tax lines from all the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China from December 1, 2024.

However, the U.S. is preparing to implement new reciprocal tariffs on April 2. "On April 2, each country will receive a number that we believe represents their tariffs," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "For some countries, it could be quite low, for some countries, it could be quite high." The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently downgraded its growth forecast for the global economy this year, citing current and future tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Who is driving global growth? You may finally have the answer. (Text/Ma Ziqian, Picture/Jia Zifan)