China Imposes 13% Condom Tax to Spur Births, Faces Skepticism

• China imposes a 13% tax on condoms and birth control pills from January 1, 2026, reversing a 1993 no-tax policy.
• The move aims to increase the country's declining birth rate and address a growing shortage of youth and labor.
• China's population is aging, with fewer new births leading to economic concerns and potential production decline.
• Past policies, like the strict one-child policy, are now seen as a major contributor to the current demographic crisis.
• Experts are skeptical about the tax's effectiveness, citing small price increases and public disinterest in having more children due to high costs.

Why It Matters: China taxes condoms to boost births, but experts doubt its impact on the severe demographic crisis.