Tue, May 30, 2023 page10

• China mulls manufacturer tax breaks

  PLANNING STAGES: While the tax policy could save advanced manufacturers a fortune, it also means officials might be becoming more worried about the economic outlook

  • Bloomberg
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  China is considering new tax incentives for high-end manufacturing companies, person familiar with the matter said, as Beijing seeks to bolster the economy and encourage more innovation in technology to counter US competition.

  The tax policy being considered could save advanced manufacturers hundreds of billions of yuan, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the information is not public.

  The plan is still subject to approval and could change, the person said.

  

  A worker produces semiconductor chips at a workshop in Suqian, China, on Feb. 28.

  Photo: AFP

  China’s post-COVID-19 economic rebound is losing momentum, with the latest data showing exports and investment weakening across the board, a recovery in the property market fizzling and unemployment among young people soaring to a record. Chinese stocks have slumped, the yuan has breached seven yuan to the US dollar, and prices of key commodities such as copper and iron ore have plunged as investors reassess the outlook for the world’s second-largest economy.

  Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) cited a “modern industrial system” as one of China’s top economic priorities at a high-profile meeting earlier this month, prompting expectations that Beijing would roll out measures such as subsidies for manufacturers.

  A Chinese State Council meeting this month also discussed supporting the country’s advanced manufacturing businesses, which covers a wide range of industries from new materials, chips and artificial intelligence to biopharmaceutics.

  The Chinese Ministry of Finance did not immediately respond to faxed questions seeking information.

  The government had previously announced tax breaks this year of 1.8 trillion yuan (US$254.3 billion), down from a record 4.2 trillion yuan last year as the economy gradually recovers.

  A move to boost tax incentives suggests officials might be growing more concerned about the outlook.

  The planned tax breaks for high-end manufacturers also provide further evidence that Beijing is prioritizing support for a sector that is key to supply chain security, particularly in semiconductors, as tension with the US and its allies intensifies.

  Last year, the People’s Bank of China provided more than 200 billion yuan in relending loans for commercial banks to encourage cheap lending to manufacturers and other sectors.

  Despite the government’s support, manufacturers have seen their revenues and profits squeezed because of falling demand. Factory activity contracted last month for the first time in four months, while data this weekend showed manufacturing profits plunged 27 percent in the first four months of the year from the same period last year.

  However, the government’s ability to apply large-scale fiscal stimulus is limited. Revenue from land sales, a key source of income for local governments, has plummeted because of the downturn in the property market, while debt risks have climbed.

  China’s tax income weakened to 13.8 percent of GDP last year from 17 percent in 2018 after the government made aggressive tax cuts in previous years to boost the economy.

  Chinese Minister of Finance Liu Kun (劉昆) has said there could be “outstanding conflicts” between income and spending this year.
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