Tue, 15 Apr 2025

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 'This is so hard': The Chinese small businesses brought to a standstill by Trump's tariffs

Stock is piling up in warehouses as exporters grapple with new levies that total up to 145%, reports the BBC's China correspondent Laura Bicker.

* Chinese companies attending the Canton Fair in Guangzhou are feeling the pain of the ongoing trade war between the US and China, with many unable to sell their products due to 145% tariffs imposed by President Trump.
* Around half of all products made by Sorbo Technology, a small company with 400 workers in Zhejiang province, are sold to the US. The company's owner, Lionel Xu, is worried that if the tariffs are not lifted, his factory will be severely impacted.
* Buyers from the US, including key clients like Walmart, have stopped purchasing Chinese goods due to the high tariffs, leaving products stockpiled in warehouses.
* China has maintained its defiant stance and vowed to fight the trade war "until the end", while President Trump's unpredictability has added to the uncertainty surrounding the crisis.
* The effects of the trade war are expected to be felt in kitchens and living rooms across America, with consumers likely to face higher prices for Chinese goods.
* China's economy is heavily reliant on exports, which accounted for around half of its economic growth last year. If the trade war continues, it could have significant consequences for Chinese workers and businesses.
* Some companies at the Canton Fair are trying to find new markets to offset the impact of the tariffs, while others believe that there is still money to be made in China despite the challenges posed by the trade war.
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