China’s top leaders have made strengthening domestic demand their top economic priority for 2026, reports Bloomberg, while hinting at a measured approach to stimulus.
The Communist Party’s Politburo, “We must adhere to domestic demand as the main driver and build a strong domestic market,” during its December meeting. Authorities also vowed to grow “new productive forces,” according to the official readout, suggesting strong measures to curtail manufacturing were unlikely at least in some key sectors.
Senior leaders’ commitment to boosting domestic demand follows a loss of economic momentum in recent months amid a rapid pullback in investment. While exports defying US tariffs have powered China’s trade surplus this year past the $1 trillion mark for the first time, Beijing is facing calls to rebalance its economy.