Tariff: Chinese city uncertainty that supplies USA with Christmas goods
It is a familiar view and dear to millions of people from the United States: while families decorate their homes with Christmas lights, socks and tree on the top of the tree while playing ice and Christmas music.
But a few people know where this iconic Christmas elements come from.
Most of the time, they come from a city in the Zeziang province of China: Yeu, which is nicknamed “Christmas City”, almost provides 90% of all decorative articles Christmas used USAAccording to state media.
And most of these products can be tracked to the wholesale market – which is the largest in the world.
This is a caught complex. Inside, foreign buyers are from music Santa Claus toys to artificial Christmas trees – as well as many other items, including hats, massage pistols and folding camp chairs.
But currently there is a hidden concern chain. These suppliers are in the front row of global trade – and now they are in the three -digit tariff scenes imposed by President Donald Trump, they have caused shockwave worldwide and disrupted relationships between the US and China for decades, two financial superpowers.
The United States General tariffs on China have now exceeded 145%of the impressive 145%, which is the largest commercial penalties imposed by the US in a century.
For most traders, these actions cost customers, reduced their profits and forced to migrate to other markets.
A. CNN Earlier this week, he visited the market, many Trump expressed concern and confusion with actions, but also expressed the desire for a peaceful solution when they recover the ruins of their disrupted businesses.
“Some of our long -term customers have stopped negotiating with us and we are all very sad,” said Ron Hangyan, 43 -year -old who has been selling Christmas decorations for 15 years.
After imposing tariffs, she tried to provide a reduction to her American customers to protect the business, but did not work. Eight out of ten people canceled their contracts this year, which indicates a loss of more than 5,000 135,000.
Ron says that US exports only refer to some of its clients, but they are not just numbers on the screen. Most are long -term partners.
She met an American customer at a commercial festival in China years ago, and they worked together for almost a decade; He also traveled to visit her factory, where the products were produced.
“Due to the problem of charges, he said there was no other way except to cancel and see what’s going on later” CNN. “We have worked together for a long time.”
“Targa” is already converting people in yevu
He said that most of the jobs in the US factories were being destroyed by bad business deals, as President Trump’s tariff rhetoric.
It is very difficult for imagine to be able to do the future that can be done by American hands – unless customers are willing to pay more as plastic Christmas jewelery and now cheap.
Cambodia’s second largest exporter of Christmas decorations for the US, where factories salaries are lower than China, but Trump has imposed 49% of the country’s smaller Southeast Asian country before a recent 90 -day interval.
The city is very low to Chinese standards, with less than two million residents, but has a significant presence in global trade.
Last year, he sent out $ 81 billion abroad, of which approximately.5 11.5 billion went to the US, according to local customs data.
This huge effect is evident from the moment you enter the city. After landing from the plane, the boarding bridge connected to the airport is filled with English ads, “Chinese products! Do global business in Yi!”
A. CNN He visited the wholesale market, and he still had ceiling activities. Above all, the US only applied universal tariffs to the second largest economy in the world.
Multi -story and blocks complex has a variety of products on each floor, coffee shops and snack tents are scattered everywhere. Wherever you look, there is an explosion of color and sound, about 70,000 stalls are crowded, local authorities said.
But the growth of the trade war is already leaving its mark.
A. CNN He noticed the buyers of many countries to examine booths and discusses contracts with sellers, but not a single American appeared.
The tenants are also nervous – many have refused to talk and are careful about local Chinese officials to broadcast the market.
Even suppliers who do not sell to the US are nervous.
Trump may have postponed their mutual tariffs on other countries along with China, leading to stopping their own agreement, but there is no way to find out whether negotiations are still underway and revive the announcement tariffs.
Many economists have warned that the global recession will occur if the trade war continues.
The shuttle means the global economies are constantly changing, and the customers can re -examine the purse strings and where they spend their money.
It represents serious problems to the population, whose livelihood depends on foreign customers, especially the Christmas festival.
Li Jino worked in his family’s artificial flower business in Yevu from the Foundation in 1993, selling roses, sunflower flowers, daisies and many other plastic bouquets.
Although they do not have American customers, their income has been affected since the commencement of trade war.
“Although we think China is improving (and recovering), the United States are still the best country in the world,” she said.
“Americans always affect the world. When they start a business war, everyone may worry about it and may have our customers (requests).”
Turley Global Economy can also harm your sales, as she said that she is the first person to cut out decorations and costs such as plastic flowers.
“If we can’t live a happy life, who will take care of decorations?” She asked.
Business change
For many other suppliers, whose customer base is concentrated in the US, Trump’s trade war means now they must look for other opportunities.
In a way, this change has been going on for years at the national level. The idea of the Discussion in a practically trade or investment scenario for both countries has been discussed in the US-China circles over the years, although such a historical rupture has enormous suffering for the economies that are connected to each other.
Trump is rising tensions from the US and China trade war in the first post and China is preparing to cleverly in the next year.
Since 2018, Beijing has expanded its supply chains and business relations with other parts of the world, thereby reducing the participation of US exports.
Chinese exports to the US represented 19.2% of all payments abroad in 2018 – but in 2024, official data said.
This means that China now depends on American companies than the previous one, which is also adopted by the sellers.
“Now, I take all my clients in the US to the EU route. I will send all these items to our EU customers,” said Halloween Decoration Salesman, 39, Nee Jikin.
Half of his exports used to go to the US. Like Ron, she said “many years ago with old customers” business relationships, she said. But now, these requests have been suspended, although they have been in talks before they declare tariffs.
Although her sales have fallen “significantly”, she is optimistic about other options.
“I still have a domestic market and EU market. I am doing international e -commerce online,” she said, ghost masks, pumpkin lanterns, dance demons and big eyes around her.
“Last year we had already started projecting products that could be sold to China’s domestic market.”
Some sellers praised China’s response to the trade war, resonating the feelings expressed on China’s tightly controlled social media, where online users expressed anger over the US and supported Beijing’s position against Trump’s tariffs.
Last week, Beijing increased rates on American products to 125%, saying that Chinese leader Jinping said his country was “not afraid.”
Officials suggest that Beijing will no longer raise rates, because it does not make sense to continue to grow. “Our government is doing well in these matters,” said Li Imitation Flower Salesman.
But it does not diminish their fear, because they are prepared for the effect and worry about what is the trade war for the yeu and living there.
Li, the plastic flower seller is concerned about how the world is affecting her six -year -old daughter “every day”, she says, “The Chinese are always concerned about the next generation.”
And not even confirmed as a history, she was confused about why Trump first started such a trade war.
“We need world peace. In my opinion, I really don’t understand why they do that,” she said.
She and other suppliers have expressed hope that the leaders of both countries will reach an agreement and end up with their lives and business in uncertainty.
When the trade war is dragged, it is unclear whether the relationship is repaired – or even if suppliers eventually sold it to their long -term customers, it will be the same again.
For some, the damage has already been done.
“When we make a daily purchase, we will consider whether these products are imported from the United States if we want to buy a bag or buy some daily needs,” said Christmas decorative seller Ron.
And if these products are made in the United States: “I will definitely choose not to buy them.”
