An official survey shows China’s manufacturing activity contracted in December, adding to pressure on Beijing to reverse an economic downturn amid trade tension with Washington.
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The purchasing managers’ index issued Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics and an industry group, the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, fell to 49.4 from November’s 50.0 on a 100-point scale on which numbers below 50 show activity contracting.
A statement by the groups said “downward pressure on the economy is still large” amid a domestic slowdown and weak global demand.
Chinese and U.S. officials are due to meet in January for talks on a tariff fight over U.S. complaints about Beijing’s technology policies.
