Workers’ rights, a housing crisis and marital disputes are among the issues that China’s leaders will discuss at annual political meetings that open Tuesday in Beijing.The ruling Communist Party will use the conclave known as the “Two Sessions” to rubber-stamp a raft of pre-approved legislation, with little expectation of any meaningful opposition as voting is tightly controlled.But the 5,000 national delegates can also take advantage of the occasion in the capital to garner support for pet projects that may make it into law in the future.Here are some of this year’s proposals: – Changing workforce -China is grappling with a slowing economy and a rapidly changing labour force, as young people struggle to find jobs while a vast cohort of older workers approaches retirement.Gan Huatian, a representative of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from southwestern Sichuan province, said he would propose a law penalising employers engaging in “academic discrimination” against graduates from lower-ranking universities, according to a local news outlet.Li Dongsheng, a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), wants to see lower social security contributions for “flexible” workers — a precarious group that has grown with booming delivery services, China News Service reported.China last year hiked its retirement age for the first time in decades.The threshold is due to rise gradually over the next 15 years from 60 to 63 for men, and from 50 to 55 for blue-collar women.NPC representative Feng Tao, of eastern Shandong province, told the Workers’ Daily newspaper that he wanted longer annual leave for those with more than 30 years of experience.- Housing fix -China has struggled to escape a years-long slump in its property sector, a once key driver of growth weighed down by huge debts that have led some developers into default.Beijing has already rolled out a range of measures to help people purchase city homes more easily, to ensure that buyers end up with properties they have purchased in advance.But at least one delegate is addressing it head-on.CPPCC member Zhai Meiqing — an executive at a Hong Kong real-estate conglomerate — told a national financial news outlet she would push for a “trade-in” system.That would see local governments pay residents subsidies to swap their old homes for new ones.- Marriage woes -China’s divorce rate has risen in recent decades, and marriages have been on the decline too — falling by a fifth in 2024, according to official data.For the fifth straight year, CPPCC member Jiang Shengnan plans to speak out against China’s mandatory “cooling-off period” for divorces.The rule, which came into effect in 2021, requires couples who file for divorce to wait 30 days before they can confirm their separation.Jiang, a screenwriter from eastern Zhejiang province, told the Southern Weekly newspaper that the current law especially puts women at greater risk of domestic violence.Meanwhile, Shi Bingqi, a delegate from northern Hebei province, is eyeing a cap on the amount the groom’s family pays brides before the wedding.Shi told the state-run China National Radio (CNR) that rural areas, where the practice is more common, should not allow “sky-high” prices that can be up to twice what the average local person earns in a year.The CPCC is also mulling a proposal that would lower the marriage age — currently 22 for men and 20 for women — to 18, according to state-run nationalist tabloid the Global Times.- Harassment, tattoos, larger font -Other reported proposals run the gamut from the serious to mundane or even bizarre.NPC delegate Fang Yan of northern Shaanxi province has called for parents, teachers and other adults who harm children to face heavier legal punishments, China News Weekly said.Li Ziwei, a delegate from the northeastern rust-belt province of Liaoning, told CNR she would push to tighten a crackdown on people who traffic women and children.She has also suggested imposing heavy penalties on people who force children to get tattoos, saying it might harm their future job prospects in a country where they are traditionally a taboo.And delegate Dai Yin, of central China’s Hunan province, told state broadcaster CCTV she wants leaders to enlarge the font on prescription drug bottles — and simplify their instructions — so that elderly patients can read them more easily.

US President Donald Trump shut down hopes Monday of an eleventh-hour deal with Canada and Mexico to avert sweeping tariffs, while signing an order to further hike duties on China.Trump had unveiled — and then paused — blanket tariffs on imports from major trading partners Canada and Mexico in February, accusing them of failing to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking.The halt is due to expire Tuesday, and US stock markets tumbled after Trump told reporters Monday there was “no room left” for both countries to avoid the levies.The duties stand to impact over $918 billion worth of US imports from both countries.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday pledged to impose retaliatory 25 percent tariffs on Washington, saying in a statement: “Canada will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered.”Trump also inked an order Monday to increase a previously imposed 10 percent tariff on China to 20 percent — piling atop existing levies on various Chinese goods.Beijing warned it would take countermeasures against the new tariffs to safeguard its own interests.Economists caution that tariffs could raise consumer prices while weighing on growth and employment.Asian markets fell on opening Tuesday, with Japan’s Nikkei index dropping more than two percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng down 1.5 percent after Trump’s latest tariff actions. The Tax Foundation estimates that before accounting for foreign retaliation, tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China this time would each cut US economic output by 0.1 percent.And sweeping duties, particularly on Canada and Mexico, are set to snarl supply chains for key sectors like automobiles and construction materials, risking cost increases to households.This could complicate Trump’s efforts to fulfill his campaign promises of lowering prices for Americans.On Monday, Trump told reporters that 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico were “all set.” Canadian energy goods face a lower rate.”What they’ll have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things in the United States,” Trump said.Former US officials see Trump’s tariffs over drugs like fentanyl as a means to tackle socio-economic problems — while providing legal justifications to move quickly.Washington is also seeking leverage and to rebalance trade ties, analysts believe.But using emergency economic powers to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China is a novel move, and could trigger lawsuits.- Higher costs -Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country has contingency plans, whatever decision Trump takes.If Trump continues with his tariff plans, KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk warned: “We could easily reach the highest effective tariff rate since 1936 by the beginning of 2026.”Both consumers and manufacturers stand to bear the costs of additional tariffs, which could diminish demand and trigger layoffs as businesses try to keep costs under control, she told AFP.Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders, told AFP the group expects a possible “combined duty tariff rate of above 50 percent on Canadian lumber” as proposed duties add up.Even as the United States also plans to expand forestry, Dietz said, prices will likely rise in the short-run.Anecdotally, some builders expect they could face higher costs of $7,500 to $10,000 per newly built single family home, he said.- Industry pushback -Trump’s doubling down on tariffs has already drawn industry pushback.The US-China Business Council, a group of around 270 American firms that do business in China, warned in a statement that sweeping tariffs would hurt US firms, consumers and farmers “and undermine our global competitiveness.””Any use of tariffs should be strategic and targeted, focusing on specific US national security goals and unfair Chinese economic practices,” the council’s president Sean Stein said.The National Retail Federation, meanwhile, warned that as long as tariffs on Canada and Mexico are in place, “Americans will be forced to pay higher prices on household goods.”While Washington has targeted China over chemicals for illicit fentanyl, many of the components have legitimate uses, too — making prosecution tricky. Trudeau has said that less than one percent of the fentanyl and undocumented migrants that enter the United States come through the Canadian border.

Asian markets tumbled on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump heaped tariffs on Chinese imports and warned levies on Mexico and Canada could not be averted.Japan’s Nikkei and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng saw the biggest drop, tumbling more than two percent and 1.5 percent respectively.It comes after the White House said Trump had signed on Monday an executive order to increase a previously imposed 10 percent tariff on China, to 20 percent.The US president also stressed that Canada and Mexico would not avoid being hit with 25 percent levies, causing US stocks to fall on Monday.Canada responded on Tuesday by putting 25 percent tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods.Beijing also warned on Tuesday that it would take countermeasures against new US tariffs on Chinese imports.”China is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it, and will take countermeasures to resolutely safeguard its own rights and interests,” a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.Fears the retaliatory tariffs could escalate into a full-blown trade war, drove markets down across Asia on Tuesday.Japanese automakers with Mexican factories in their supply chain suffered, with Nissan (-2.11%), Toyota (-2.25%), or Honda (-2.12%) among the major losers.Exchanges across Asia mirrored the downward trajectory, with Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan dropping around one percent.South Korea, the Philippines and Malaysia also fell.”The spectre of a full-blown trade war is once again looming, threatening to choke global economic growth just as investors were starting to regain confidence,” said Stephen Innes, SPI Asset Management.Investors are hoping China will announce a huge stimulus package at its key parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, the National People’s Congress, to stimulate the economy.”In the upcoming National People’s Congress, Chinese policymakers could provide more pro-growth measures including announcing a larger budget deficit target and maintaining a five percent growth target for this year,” said Lloyd Chan, from MUFG bank.Trump expressed outrage on Monday over the weakening of certain currencies and accused Beijing and Tokyo of using it as a trade strategy – a claim fiercely refuted by the Japanese government.The oil market also saw sharp declines with US WTI crude oil falling 0.54 percent to $68 per barrel, and Brent crude from the North Sea dropping 0.77 percent to $71.06 per barrel at around 0200 GMT.Bitcoin’s price plunged nearly 10 percent on Monday as concerns of an escalating trade war pushed investors to seek safer investments.Bitcoin and similar digital assets had surged over the weekend after Trump suggested creating a national cryptocurrency reserve.”Everything is getting sold,” Forexlive manager Adam Button said, adding: “There’s a de-risking that’s unfolding” among crypto investors.- Key figures around 0230 GMT -Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.84 percent at 37,090.72 (break)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.3 percent at 22,706.40Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,310.14Euro/dollar: UP at 1.0485 from $1.0419 on MondayPound/dollar: UP at $1.2694 from $1.2612 Dollar/yen: DOWN 149.32 from 150.28 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 82.60 pence from 82.62 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.42 percent at $68.08 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.66 percent at $71.15 per barrelNew York – Dow: UP 1.4 percent at 43,840.91 (close)London – FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 8,809.74 (close)