How a Chinese City’s Wedding Dress Industry Became an Unlikely Victim of Trump’s Tariffs
The uncertain future of Chaozhou’s decades-old high-end dress trade, the history behind world’s highest-grossing animated film “Ne Zha,” and the growing popularity of steamed food in China
Hello TWOC readers!
We hope your February has been full of moments that brought you joy and warmth as we wrap up the Valentine’s month. For many, this time of year marks the beginning of a new chapter—proposing, getting married, and dreaming of the future. Central to this milestone is the wedding dress, a timeless symbol of commitment and new beginnings. However, in Chaozhou, a city renowned for its craftsmanship in high-end wedding attire, the industry now faces an uncertain future. With most of their products bound for the US, factory owners are battling to survive Trump’s new rounds of tariffs and labor shortage, as well as growing competition at home.
While clothing manufacturers in Chaozhou are figuring out their next steps, the Chinese animation industry is turning a new page. With Ne Zha 2 set for a global release and surpassing Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film in the world (more than 1.9 billion US dollars), what makes this 3-year-old boy god so captivating?
Read on to find out more:
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Amid Snags in Global Trade, Chaozhou’s Wedding Dress Factories Battle to Survive
With a long history of fine embroidery, Chaozhou produces around 20 million wedding dresses per year, 90 percent for overseas markets. However, under the current Trump administration, tariffs on clothes imported to the US—the world’s largest wedding dress market—have risen to 35 percent. “Forget a 60 percent tariff—I can’t even afford a 20 percent,” one factory owner tells TWOC. “American clients will figure out how to deal with the tariffs, and in the end, it will be the consumer who pays.” Read more
Ne Zha: From Myth to Cultural Icon
As one of the most beloved Chinese mythological figures, Ne Zha has been worshiped in Buddhism, Daoism, and folk traditions for centuries. Over time, the character has transcended his origins as a Buddhist deity to emerge as a rebellious, anti-patriarchal hero in popular culture. Read more
All in One Pot: A Healthy Alternative to the Stir Fry is Gaining Steam
Steamed dishes, or “zhengcai,” are convenient, affordable, and healthy—and growing in popularity in China’s competitive restaurant scene, which has long been dominated by stir-fry. Read more
What We’re Reading
Set against the Tang dynasty power struggle over the succession to Empress Wu Zetian, two assassins meet in a distant town. One must die—and with him, a version of royal history lost to time. Continue reading
Chinese You Need
How to Talk About Box Office Performance Like a Pro
China’s film market has finally emerged from years of stagnation and contraction, in what has been dubbed the “strongest Spring Festival season in Chinese film history (史上最强春节档 shǐshàng zuì qiáng chūnjié dàng),” according to CCTV News. Master these Chinese cinephile lingo so you can spot the gems and avoid the duds.