'Not about condoms': Chinese shrug off contraceptive taxListen to this articleChina has introduced a 13 percent tax on condoms as it tries to boost the flagging birth rate. afpBEIJING - China has made condoms and other contraceptives more expensive as it tries to boost birth rates, but residents in Beijing and analysts say the measure will have little impact. Consumers must now pay a 13 percent value-added tax for contraception including condoms, after Beijing removed exemptions on the products from Jan 1. But young people in Beijing told AFP that taxing contraceptives will not address the root issues they say are stopping people from having children. They face concrete obstacles in China, Wu added, such as a weak job market, "prohibitive" housing costs, a stressful work culture and workplace discrimination against women.

Source: Bangkok Post January 05, 2026 07:41 UTC