Headline: Goldman Sachs Upgrades China Growth Outlook on Trade Thaw and Tech Push
Goldman Sachs has raised its medium-term growth forecast for China, pointing to resilient exports, easing U.S.–China trade frictions, and fresh policy momentum from Beijing’s latest five-year plan. The bank’s revised view underscores confidence that technology-led industrial upgrading and a calmer geopolitical backdrop can support China’s economic recovery.
The investment bank now expects China’s real GDP to expand by 4.8% in 2026 and 4.7% in 2027—up from prior estimates of 4.3% and 4.0%, marking its largest upgrade since 2019. Goldman’s chief China economist, Hui Shan, highlighted the late-October meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi as a turning point that reduced tariff pressures and signaled that Beijing has greater leverage in trade negotiations, including through rare-earth supply chains.
Policy signals from the recent Fourth Plenum and the 15th Five-Year Plan further support the improved outlook. Beijing is prioritizing technology self-reliance, high-tech manufacturing, and industrial competitiveness to drive growth, shifting away from property and infrastructure as the primary engines. While this strategy could bolster exports and corporate earnings, consumer spending may respond more slowly. Goldman also sees artificial intelligence as a long-run tailwind, potentially adding up to 8% to China’s growth trajectory over the next decade, helping to counter demographic and structural headwinds.
Key Points: – Goldman Sachs lifts China GDP forecasts to 4.8% for 2026 and 4.7% for 2027, its biggest upgrade since 2019. – Easing U.S.–China trade tensions and tariff reductions follow a Trump–Xi meeting, improving the external backdrop. – Beijing’s five-year plan emphasizes technology self-reliance, high-tech manufacturing, and industrial strength. – Strategy may boost exports and profits quickly, while household consumption could recover more gradually. – AI adoption could add up to 8% to China’s long-term growth potential, offsetting demographic pressures.
