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China’s economic pressures create ‘ongoing concerns’ for British firms as hardships grow

Almost 60 per cent of firms surveyed by the British Chamber of Commerce in China reported an increasing difficulty to operate in China this year

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Reuters
Luna Sunin Beijing

British companies operating in China have seen the business environment grow tougher for a fifth consecutive year, according to a survey published by the British Chamber of Commerce in China on Tuesday.

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A lack of robust stimulus packages contributed to 58 per cent of the 311 surveyed British businesses reporting increasing difficulty to operate in China this year, citing economic headwinds and intensifying geopolitical tensions.

A majority of British firms have been reporting the same difficulties since 2019, the chamber added.

Only a third of companies anticipated that revenues would increase in 2024, a decline from 45 per cent in 2023.

However, investment levels among British companies in China have remained stable, with 76 per cent of respondents either maintaining or increasing their funding plans, the chamber said.

This data highlights ongoing concerns about economic pressures in China
British Chamber of Commerce in China

Meanwhile, only 8 per cent planned on cutting investment, representing the lowest level since 2021, although a record high of 16 per cent said they were unsure about future investments in China.

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