Marketplace All-in-One China announces tariffs pause
May 15, 2025
Laura Bicker, the BBC's correspondent in Guangdong, sheds light on China's surprising 90-day pause on tariffs affecting American companies. This has sparked a rush in shipping as businesses scramble to send products before the deadline. Bicker also discusses the impact this pause has on Chinese industries and workers facing uncertainty. Switching gears, the podcast delves into the economic excitement surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, exploring how it prepares to boost the local economy by attracting hundreds of thousands of fans.
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Tariff Pause Sparks Shipping Rush
- The 90-day tariff pause by China sparked nearly a 300% rise in container shipments to the US.
- Factories rushed to ship goods before the pause ends, showing trade tensions greatly affect supply chains.
Sofa Factory Restarts Production
- A sofa factory in Guangdong resumed production after months of pause due to US tariffs.
- The owner hopes US clients reorder before the tariff pause potentially ends.
Tariffs Felt Like Divorce
- Derek Wang developed air fryers for the US market but was hit by heavy tariffs just after securing buyers.
- He likened the tariff news to parents divorcing, showing deep personal impact on trade relations.