China reports record trade surplus and cuts whisky tariffs as foreign business in Beijing grows

China's economy is showing resilience in international trade. The country reported a record trade surplus of $1.2 trillion in 2025, which was larger than many experts expected given global tariff pressures. At the same time, Beijing is seeing a nearly 20% increase in new foreign company registrations, and its local economy has grown to surpass 5 trillion yuan.

In a move seen as encouraging trade, China announced it will adjust its import tariff rate for whisky down to 5%, effective February 2, 2026. This comes as a Chinese editorial argued that tariff threats jeopardize economic momentum, and a Chinese representative at the World Economic Forum stated that trade wars have no winners.