As Prices Spike Under Trump’s Tariffs, Chinese Factories Go Live
How Chinese manufacturers are surviving the trade war, why Beijing’s allergy season keeps getting worse, how adults with ADHD find support and community online, and more in this month newsletter
Hello TWOC readers!
China is now trending like never before, thanks to Trump’s tariffs. With rates as high as 245% on Chinese imports, the world’s manufacturing giant is bracing for impact. Many Chinese manufacturers have taken to TikTok to sell their products directly to US consumers. TWOC has put together a language guide to help readers better understand the world of livestream sales in China.
But it’s not just China feeling the heat—Americans are in for a financial hit of their own: prices are poised to spike across the board, and reshoring production could take years—if it happens at all. The Washington Post reports that shoppers are already panic-buying everything from fast fashion and high-end wedding gowns to wigs and hair bundles, all of which heavily rely on Chinese supply chains, before the tariff-induced price hikes kick in.
Here are some of our previous reports on these affected industries:
Amid Snags in Global Trade, Chaozhou’s Wedding Dress Factories Battle to Survive
“While browsing the newest styles, the all-white group [of American wholesaler] candidly revealed that they had all voted for Trump…He believed business would be good during Trump’s second term, adding that if tariffs were enforced, he’d simply raise prices and make the consumers pay the difference.”
A Tangled Weave: How China’s Wig Industry Survives the Trade War
“Overseas wig-wearers remain important to the industry. Due to mounting import tariffs from the US on Chinese goods, Africa has become Rebecca’s largest market.”
Read on to find out more:
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Tree-mendous Trouble: Catkins, Fluffs and Other Consequences of Beijing’s Green Ambitions
Wind-pollinated trees—mainly poplars, junipers, and cypresses—planted in large numbers decades ago around Beijing’s tourist sites and public parks, have become a major source of public frustration. Once favored for their fast growth and hardiness during Beijing’s greening campaigns in the 1980s, these trees now cast an unintended shadow over spring, turning the city’s seasonal bloom into an annual public health battle. Read more
Rethinking ADHD: Young Chinese Find Support and Strength in Safe Online Spaces
With growing awareness, many in China are finding support online and viewing ADHD as a source of strength, but experts caution against the romanticization of the condition and over-reliance on internet diagnoses. Read more
How a Remote Ethnic Village in Yunnan Gained Global Fame
Once a poverty-stricken village in the mountains of Yunnan, Azheke has turned tourism into a lifeline, distributing dividends among locals while preserving its UNESCO-recognized heritage. Read more
Chinese You Need
Car Talk: Starting a New Life on Wheels
With innovative features like auto parking and gaming cockpits, smart EVs are capturing the hearts of young buyers. Here’s a language guide to buying your first car in China. Read more
Time Machine
170 Years of China and the World Expo | Photo Story
The World Expo kicked off last Sunday in Osaka, Japan, launching a six-month celebration under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” While some netizens have taken to social media to reminisce about the 2010 Shanghai Expo, China’s ties to the world fair go back much further—the country has been an active participant since the 19th century. Here are some of the most fascinating moments in China’s Expo history.