CHINA’S SLOW CONSUMPTION AND THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE BARRIERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EXPORT-LED MODEL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

China’s export-led framework is experiencing internal and external challenges. Domestically, consumption has soared since early 2023, while the escalating trade barriers from the West have intensified challenges to export- and production-driven growth. Overreliance on exports and investment highlights the need for sustainable consumption at home and a stable trade regime abroad; however, in recent years, China has countered difficulties in both realms. While the binary of internal and external challenges is affecting the growth strategy, it can be an opportunity to catalyse the change China’s economy needs for sustainable growth. It is to be evaluated whether the intersection of an internal consumption slump and an external trade barrier can induce a change towards a more sustainable model for China’s economy. Therefore, this paper will discuss these two factors and analyse their potential implications for China’s export-led economic growth model. Bibliography Entry Malik, Ayesha A. and Jugnoo Aijaz. 2025. "China’s Slow Consumption and the International Trade Barriers: Implications for the Export-Led Model of Economic Growth." Margalla Papers 29 (2): 93-108.