[By Guancha Network, Qi Qian]

"When US President Trump signed the executive order to launch a tariff war on a global scale, the pen in his hand was very likely made in China."

On April 10th, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post published a commentary article titled "Why Even If Trump Raises Tariffs, China's Control Over American Lives Will Remain Unshakable." The article pointed out that Trump's tariff measures will backfire because tariffs will not only severely impact the poorest Americans but also fail to shake China's status as the largest daily commodity producer.

The article noted that even without considering the pen in Trump's hand, the subsequent paperwork would mainly be handled using tools from Chinese factories. Currently, these factories are facing massive U.S. tariffs.

On April 2nd, Trump signed the so-called "Reciprocal Tariff" executive order. Screenshot of tweet.

Public reports show that during his presidency, Trump used pens from brands such as Cross and Shurpen. Although Cross is an American brand, most of its internal parts are manufactured in China, with final assembly completed in the U.S.

"Ironically, this reveals a deeper truth about Sino-U.S. trade relations," the article pointed out. The U.S. attempts to punish China through tariffs, but ultimately, the Americans who suffer the most severe impacts will be those least able to afford more expensive alternatives. Meanwhile, the U.S. cannot undermine China's dominant position in the field of daily necessities.

American trade data also reveals this shocking reality: approximately 85% of pens and pencils in the U.S. are produced in China. In 2022 alone, Americans purchased $430 million worth of pens from Chinese suppliers. Even leading American brands like BIC and Paper Mate rely on Chinese components. Data shows that China holds 80% of the global stationery market share.

The article noted that Trump's recent "reckless economic bets" have led to piles of paperwork. Now, the cost of these tasks will become more expensive, and there is currently no real "Chinese alternative."

"It's not just writing tools. When ardent supporters of Trump go to church to pray for victory in the trade war, the Bible they hold in their hands is very likely printed in China!" the article mentioned. The Amity Printing Company in Nanjing is the world's largest Bible printer. Since 1987, the company has printed over 200 million copies of the Bible, all for export. It is estimated that about half of these were sold to the U.S. market.

Additionally, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Commission, Chinese-made products account for 70% to 80% of religious books imported into the United States.

Moreover, despite years of efforts at diversification, one-third of garlic in American households, half of low-cost furniture, and nearly 80% of Christmas toys are still made in China. In every government office in the U.S., portraits of Trump are displayed. However, the wooden frames decorating these portraits may also come from China since China provides 70% of picture frames in the U.S.

This portrait, which has been hanging in the Colorado State Capitol Building since 2019, recently drew Trump's complaint that it was "intentionally distorted." Video screenshot.

"There are countless examples like this," the article stated. In fact, China's dominant position in these overlooked, small yet essential daily necessities is built upon its economies of scale and production efficiency. This is something that American factories or any other country's factories find hard to rival.

The South China Morning Post noted that Trump's tariff policies aim to revitalize American manufacturing and reduce dependence on China. However, local manufacturers in many areas of the U.S. simply do not exist. They need several years to establish production bases, rebuild supply and distribution networks, and reach China's scale and efficiency. Therefore, regardless of how many tariffs Trump imposes on Chinese goods, the first result will be a rise in prices for pens and paper.

The article mentioned that U.S. Treasury Secretary [Becente] once argued that tariffs caused significant stock market fluctuations, with the richest people being the hardest hit, while American workers, Trump's main supporters, would benefit. He said at the time, "The wealthiest 10% own 88% of stocks, the middle 40% own the remaining 12%, and the poorest 50% are heavily indebted. They rent homes and have car loans."

However, the reality is that although some rich people did suffer significant losses in the recent 'market massacre,' most of them can weather the storm and may even recover their losses later. Tariffs, especially those targeting China and other Asian countries, will have the greatest impact on 50% of America's "have-nots."

The article explained that this is because China dominates in small but essential daily necessities. The wealthy can purchase luxury items from elsewhere, while the poor often have no choice but to bear the cost of tariffs.

"The tools Trump uses to wage trade wars—pens, podiums, and promotional materials—are likely made by the economy he aims to disrupt. This itself is a poetic justice full of irony," the article stated. "But this reality reminds us that economic isolationism is easier said than done in a globalized world."

Finally, the article reiterated that for various countries, Trump's tariffs may sound severe, but in practice, they often amount to taxing ordinary Americans. Unless the U.S. can rebuild its manufacturing base or persuade consumers to pay higher prices for domestically produced essentials, no matter how many tariffs are signed into law, they will not weaken China's control over daily necessities.

This article is an exclusive contribution by Guancha Network. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491579773584753187/

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