Reference News website reported on April 17 that according to a report from TASS on April 15, an analysis of data from the US statistical department by TASS showed that the US tariff increase on Chinese goods will result in shortages of goods such as umbrellas, hairpins, jewelry, wigs, and false eyelashes.

The report indicated that in 2024, 96% of the imported umbrellas and 85% of umbrella accessories purchased by US companies came from China. Although the US has its own umbrella manufacturers, they cannot make up for the demand gap if imports are completely stopped.

The situation with combs, curling irons, and hair accessories is similar: among the total import value of $409 million, China accounted for $370 million, which is more than 90%.

US companies also actively purchase jewelry from China, accounting for two-thirds of the total import value.

Finally, two-thirds of wigs, fake beards, and false eyelashes also come from China.

Last year, in the imports of watch straps, watch chains, ties, bow ties, gloves, stockings, socks, and rubber shoes, China accounted for half of these products.

In addition, the US tariff increase on Chinese goods may lead to price increases for a series of imported children's products and holiday items, as the US is highly dependent on China for imports in these categories.

The report said that in 2024, in children's products, the highest dependence on Chinese goods was for baby strollers: 97% of the $380.2 million in imports came from China.

The US purchased nearly 93% of children's illustrated books, coloring books, and drawing books from China, with a total annual import value of $504.5 million. In addition, it imported 76% of toys (total value of $1.35 billion) and 62% of modeling clay and toy putty (total value of $200 million) from China.

The report also mentioned that the supply of holiday items may also be affected by tariffs. Last year, 96% of artificial flowers, 89% of festival and carnival items (balloons and streamers), 80% of music boxes, squeezable toys, whistles, rattles, and similar products, and 62% of greeting cards and envelopes were imported from China.

In 2024, the total value of all these goods purchased by the US amounted to $2.06 billion.

The report recently mentioned that when a country imposes tariffs on foreign goods, it usually leads to a rise in final consumer prices - importers directly pass the additional costs onto consumers. One of the most famous examples is the tariff war between the US and Europe in the early 1960s. At that time, the European Economic Community (the predecessor of the EU) imposed a 45% tariff on chicken imports from the US, causing chicken prices to immediately soar by 40%. Subsequently, imports decreased by more than half within a year. (Translated by He Yingjun)

On March 28, customers shop at a supermarket in New York City, USA. (Xinhua News Agency)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494279099771519551/

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