China has posted unexpectedly strong economic growth in the first three months of 2025, before the full force of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs took effect.

The year-on-year expansion matched China’s growth rate in the fourth quarter and exceeded Beijing’s full-year target for 2025, as well as the 5.1 per cent forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll. The strong first-quarter growth came despite Trump’s first salvo of 20 per cent tariffs,

China has reported that its economy expanded at a 5.4% annual pace in January-March, supported by strong exports ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s rapid increases in tariffs on Chinese exports

Europe’s perhaps best-known budget carrier Ryanair warned that it may delay deliveries of Boing aircraft if U.S. tariffs make them more expensive.

Boeing has delivered aircraft to multiple Chinese airlines this year, but the airline companies were told not to accept any more deliveries.