China’s manufacturing activity picked up last month, according to a private survey, indicating economic resilience in the face of US President Donald Trump slapping more tariffs on the Asian nation’s exports.

The Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 50.8 in February from 50.1 a month earlier, Caixin and S&P Global said in a statement on Monday. That compared to the median forecast of 50.4 by economists. An official gauge of factory activity released Saturday showed a return to expansion in February.

Any reading above 50 signals an expansion of activity, and a figure below that contraction.

The latest data comes as policymakers are expected to announce during a major meeting of the nation’s legislature this week that they’ll push China’s official budget deficit target to the highest in over three decades, pumping trillions of yuan into a system battling deflation, a property crash and a trade war with the US.

Thousands of delegates including ministry chiefs and provincial leaders will gather Wednesday in Beijing for the conclave, where officials will set a bullish growth goal of around 5%, according to most analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Economists have been calling for more stimulus, especially as the Trump administration takes aim at China with a series of moves involving investment, trade and other issues. It also plans an additional 10% tariff of Chinese shipments that is to take effect Tuesday. China’s economy has been heavily reliant on exports for growth, irking some trade partners and prompting calls for bolstering the services sector.

The Caixin results have been mostly stronger than the official poll over the past year. The two surveys cover different sample sizes, locations and business types, with the private poll focusing on small and export-oriented firms.