With all eyes on the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing this week, top Chinese officials attended a press conference on the economy today, where they highlighted work in intermediate goods, e-commerce, and green trade as the main ways to expand trade in the year to come.

As Chinese auto exports increase rapidly, the scrutiny by foreign governments may intensify. Beijing is likely to use a wide range of tools to fight back while continuing support for its auto industry.

At a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference yesterday, a spokesperson was asked about U.S. export restrictions on semiconductors, and responded with criticism of U.S. "coercion" and "bullying."

China's digitally delivered services trade grew 10.4% this year, and the cross-border e-commerce grew 14.4%.

During a press conference last week, China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong offered comments on the upcoming China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, China's outbound investment, trade disputes with Australia, and the implementation of export controls on gallium and germanium.

China's central government recently announced new measures to attract foreign investment. These measures cover policies related to market access, national treatment, data flows, and fiscal and tax support.

Chinese officials pushed back against the new U.S. Executive Order that would curb certain outbound investment in China, calling it "blatant economic coercion and tech bullying" and vowing to take countermeasures.