Today in Focus Trump’s trade war: the view from China
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Apr 17, 2025 Amy Hawkins, The Guardian's senior China correspondent, dives deep into the escalating U.S.-China trade war. She reveals the complex impact of tariffs on local businesses, particularly in Yiwu, highlighting traders' fears and adapting strategies. Hawkins reflects on her observations from returning to China post-pandemic, noting a shift in market dynamics. She discusses China's transition from low-value manufacturing to high-tech industries and the growing consumer nationalism amid changing global trade relationships.
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Inside China's Largest Market
- Amy Hawkins describes Iwu International Wholesale Market as the world's biggest wholesale market on China's east coast.
- It contains thousands of everyday items, showing how deeply it is tied to global trade and export to the US.
Tariffs Freeze Trade Activity
- Tariffs beyond 85% effectively freeze trade as companies stop shipping goods due to cost.
- The US and China trade is nearly halted despite tariff percentage changes.
Who Feels Tariffs Most?
- US consumers will feel the tariff pain more than Chinese consumers in the short term.
- China mostly imports industrial commodities, so consumer goods remain largely unaffected there.