Chinese policymakers in search of a sugar rush for their finances might have found just the fix they need — a tax on sweet drinks that would net billions of renminbi a year and also bring Beijing into line with global norms.
China remains one of the last major economies without a nationwide tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. At least 116 countries had imposed national taxes on sugary drinks by mid-2024, according to the World Health Organization.
Days ahead of China’s annual rubber-stamp political meetings, officials are considering taxing beverages with the greatest sugar content, according to people familiar with the policy discussion. This would have the twin benefit of addressing a widening fiscal deficit alongside mounting public health challenges.