[Text by Guancha Observer, Xiong Chaoyi] What would a typical American family look like without the products it has long relied on from "Made in China"?
On April 27 local time, The New York Times launched a visual report titled "Your Home Without China" by deeply analyzing import data to reveal which areas American consumers may face shortages, reduced choices, and rising prices. The report pointed out that it is difficult to imagine what an American family without Chinese products would be like. Because many daily necessities of American families are almost entirely dependent on imports from China, with the introduction of new tariff policies, the prices of these goods are very likely to rise further.
It can be seen that in the kitchens of American families, a large number of items bear deep "Made in China" imprints, and toaster ovens even completely rely on imports from China. Metal chairs on balconies, charcoal grills, umbrellas, computer monitors and desk lamps in studies, first aid kits and irons in bedrooms, flashlights, fireworks, baby strollers, and Christmas decorations in storage rooms... all of these have seventy percent or even more than ninety percent coming from China.
The report mentioned that although tariffs have led some production to shift to other countries such as Mexico and Vietnam, or back to the United States, many goods still require Chinese components. Even if the U.S. uses tariffs and a series of regulatory measures to try to keep Chinese-made cars out of its market, many car parts still depend on China. If Americans want to choose electric vehicles, due to China's dominant position in the battery industry, this dependence will be even deeper.
The New York Times used fireworks as an example, pointing out that the vast majority of fireworks imported into the U.S. come from China. Without "Made in China," Americans might not enjoy their holidays as much. The South China Morning Post previously noted, "When President Trump of the United States signed an executive order to launch a global tariff war, the pen he held in his hand was probably made in China."
The New York Times' visual report shows the degree of reliance of an average American family on Chinese imports. Gray represents 0-20%, green represents 20%-40%, yellow represents 40%-60%, orange represents 60%-80%, and red represents 80%-100%.
The New York Times pointed out that since China consolidated its position as the "world's factory" several decades ago, Americans have become increasingly reliant on Chinese-made goods in their daily lives. If President Trump's high tariffs on Chinese products continue, the increased costs may be passed on to businesses and ultimately to consumers.
By scrolling the mouse wheel, The New York Times first leads us into the kitchen of an American home, where it is easy to see America's dependence on China - China has been leading globally in the mass production of items like tableware and cooking utensils.
In particular, all American household toaster ovens are imported, and almost every one comes from China, with an import rate of over 99% for this product.
For decades, China has invested heavily in developing manufacturing. Today, China manufactures nearly one-third of the world's physical goods, a production volume larger than the combined total of the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
American dependence on "Made in China" is so deep that it even permeates into their national holiday celebrations. For example, the majority of fireworks on the U.S. market are imported from China. Without "Made in China," Americans' holiday celebrations might lose their luster.
However, the report also mentioned that in recent years, some production has shifted from China to other countries such as Mexico and Vietnam, and some products are still widely produced in the U.S.
Therefore, there may still be many things in an American living room that are "Made in China," but not everything is. For instance, TV series may come from Mexico, and sofas may come from Vietnam.
During the first term of Trump's presidency, the U.S. imposed unprecedentedly broad tariffs on numerous Chinese goods. In fact, some categories like wooden furniture and washing machines had already faced other protective tariff measures before the large-scale tariff increases at that time.
Due to the import tariff policy, this directly pushed manufacturing companies to accelerate the layout of new capacities in countries such as Mexico, Vietnam, and Thailand. These countries now not only set records in importing Chinese components but also assemble products like Nintendo game consoles for export to the U.S. market.
In addition, some manufacturing capacity remains in the U.S. Some high-end furniture categories continue to be domestically produced, occupying significant shares in niche markets; and the vast majority of mattresses, which are bulky and costly to transport, are also fully produced in the U.S.
Entering an American bathroom, makeup brushes, nail clippers, combs - almost all personal care products, are very likely to bear the imprint of "Made in China".
However, the situation is different in the cotton goods sector. Although China is a global textile giant, dominating the world cotton output and textile exports, the proportion of cotton products from China purchased by American consumers has significantly decreased. The reason is mainly political manipulation.
Looking back at the end of Trump's first term, the U.S. side constantly hyped up Xinjiang-related issues, using fabricated "forced labor" as an excuse to ban the import of all high-quality products from Xinjiang, China. Over 90% of China's cotton is produced in Xinjiang, and Trump's administration's political manipulation cut off the channel for Xinjiang cotton products to enter the U.S. market.
The New York Times reported that the most expensive product in many American households should be cars, which are almost certainly not from China. In fact, due to old high tariff barriers and strict regulatory review systems, American consumers can hardly directly purchase locally produced vehicles from China.
However, this does not mean that ordinary Americans' cars will not become more expensive. Many car parts come from China, and new tariffs on many foreign-made parts are set to take effect on May 3. If you're planning to buy an electric vehicle, you'll find that one of the more expensive components - the battery - is also likely made in China.
The report stated that during Trump's first term when tariffs were imposed on China, manufacturers could still maintain the supply of goods to consumers. However, under this round of tariff turmoil, the difficulty has greatly increased. A 145% tariff imposed by the U.S. on Chinese products might sever the import of most goods. Since the U.S. is also planning to impose high tariffs on other countries, this means suppliers trying to procure from other countries may still face pressure from production costs.
Nearing the hundredth day of re-entering office, Trump's administration's retrogressive policies on tariff policies have sparked strong opposition and concerns within the U.S.
On April 12 local time, the Financial Times of the UK published an article pointing out that from microwave ovens to Barbie dolls, American consumers are highly dependent on Chinese products. Under Trump's tariffs, they cannot quickly find substitutes, facing either price increases or no products available. Even, some people might have to pay a high price just to get through a cool summer.
Chad Bown, a senior researcher at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said that compared to Trump's first term, the rates and speed of tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Chinese products are higher, and involve many new consumer goods. These measures' speed and scale mean that costs are more likely to be passed on to American consumers. "Today, the possibility of a significant price increase when consumers buy these products is much greater," Bown said.
BBC reported on April 12 that Trump's frequent adjustments to tariff policies have left many American consumers feeling paralyzed and have pushed the average effective tariff rate on U.S. imports to the highest level in over a century. People generally expect that tariffs will lead to price increases in the coming months, especially for goods such as clothing, leather products, electronics, and toys, many of which are made in China.
The report cited predictions from Yale University's Budget Lab, stating that clothing prices might surge more than 60% in the short term, basic medicine prices could rise by 12%, and food prices by 2.6%. Overall, if purchasing patterns remain unchanged, a typical American household will face approximately $4,700 in cost increases due to new tariffs. As a result, panic-buying frenzies have erupted in many parts of the U.S.
Recently, Trump has frequently spoken out on Sino-U.S. trade negotiations, unilaterally hyping up the so-called "negotiation" topic to create momentum for the Sino-U.S. trade talks. Fundamentally, this is merely an attempt to cover up his increasingly passive situation in the trade war.
On April 24, He Yedong, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce, responded to the U.S. claim of "tariff cooling" by stating that the U.S. abuse of tariffs violates basic economic laws and market rules. It not only fails to help solve U.S. problems but also seriously disrupts the international trade order, interfering with enterprises' normal production and operations and people's daily consumption. This has been strongly opposed by the international community and within the U.S. "The bell can only be untied by the one who tied it," the unilateral tariff measures were initiated by the U.S. If the U.S. truly wants to resolve issues, it should heed the rational voices of the international community and domestic parties, completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China, and find solutions to differences through equal dialogue.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498277314539602486/
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