The RMB will keep rising, but at Beijing’s pace, and not as a concession in trade talks. On 8 October 2026, the opening day of the PRC–EU trade and investment consultations in Beijing, PBoC (People’s Bank of China) published an unusual standalone statement of its position on the RMB exchange rate. It will tolerate gradual appreciation, but rejects any level set from outside, so the exchange rate will not be a bargaining chip.
Australian beef filled its annual PRC import quota in June, triggering an extra 55 percent tariff on shipments above the limit. Brazil followed on 29 September, filling its quota of 1.106 million tonnes, with the extra tariff applying from 1 October.
AI safety talks between Beijing and Washington have opened a channel for cooperation amid tense competition. Vice Premier He Lifeng 何立峰 and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held the dialogue’s first meeting in New York in September 2026 and agreed to meet again in November. Debate in Beijing centres on what the talks can achieve and how far cooperation should extend.
Encouraging births takes more than support for new parents. In 2026, policymakers and academics in the PRC are calling for children’s needs to shape how society is planned and run.