[Source: Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi] At the beginning of this year, the "No Sale, No Use" bill initiated by the Biden administration forced American TikTok users to migrate to the Chinese social media platform, Xiaohongshu. History is surprisingly similar. In the current situation where the Trump administration has ignited a tariff war against China, American consumers who rely on Chinese-made daily necessities have unexpectedly popularized another Chinese B2B cross-border e-commerce platform, DHgate.

According to a report by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on the 15th, as the U.S. tariff increase against China becomes irrational, some TikTok users recently made short videos explaining how the global market works to American consumers. They told them that many famous European and American brand clothing, handbags, accessories, etc., are originally produced in Chinese factories. They also recommended that American consumers buy "high-quality goods from the source" directly through Chinese cross-border e-commerce websites without middlemen taking the difference. This unexpected move has made DHgate, which was previously unknown to most American consumers, explode in popularity overnight, leading to a rush of downloads by American users.

By Tuesday, the app's ranking on Apple's free application chart in the U.S. rose from over 200 just a few days ago to second place, just behind ChatGPT. The monthly download volume in the U.S. surged by 940%.

DHgate app's download volume in the U.S. Data analysis platform Appfigure

In the face of widespread concerns among American consumers about the rising prices caused by the trade war, TikTok users casually threw out the phrase "there is no product that cannot be made in Chinese factories," which caught significant attention.

This video showcased several clothing factories located in Guangzhou, China, reportedly supplying European and American fashion brands such as Brooks Brothers, Tommy Hilfiger, and Hugo Boss. The video garnered over 3.5 million views within three days.

Another widely circulated TikTok video also indicated that more than 80% of luxury handbags are produced in China, then shipped to Europe for repackaging and relabeling before being sold overseas. In this way, these bags, which appear to be "Made in Italy" or "Made in France," see their value double.

According to reports in Hong Kong, customers on DHgate can easily find high-end replicas of Goyard handbags priced at around $20, while the genuine price exceeds $4,000; they can also find yoga pants similar to Lululemon for approximately $10.

These highly popular videos also sparked discussions on trending topics like "China Reveals the Inside Story of Luxury Goods," making many people question the true value of branded products. Some consumers questioned whether they were merely paying for the brand name and fancy packaging. TikTok user "valbulosity's" video received over 6 million views and more than 600,000 likes, with him exclaiming, "This just proves that those products are not worth that price. China is really exposing everything!"

A TikTok user recommends American consumers to buy products directly from the source in China. Video screenshot

TechCrunch, an American technology website, pointed out that the focus of these videos was to emphasize the extent to which Americans may depend on China, as even products American consumers consider high-end European brands are manufactured in China. This is different from fast-fashion affordable products sold on Shein or TikTok Shop.

This reminded TechCrunch of a TikTok user's sarcasm, "These trends are the result of America claiming to hold all the cards in the trade war, while China's response is: 'All the cards are made by us.'"

"Of course, for anyone familiar with the global supply chain, this is nothing new. But these videos have prompted American consumers to seek direct purchasing channels from Chinese manufacturers." TechCrunch reported that besides DHgate, another Chinese e-commerce app, Taobao, also rose to the tenth position on Apple's app store in the U.S.

"Business Insider" noticed that while Chinese manufacturers proudly promote locally made products, American retailers also posted videos on TikTok to complain about how Trump's tariff policies hurt their companies. These Chinese and American users have inadvertently directed American consumers to alternative channels for buying cheap replicas of Western luxury brands.

"Business Insider" also tried DHgate and found the platform offers a wide variety of products, ranging from pet supplies to portable electric scooters. Upon opening the app, users will see promotional messages such as "New users can enjoy up to 90% off" and advertisements for handbags priced at only $1.9.

When "Business Insider" attempted to order a pair of sunglasses priced at $9.98 to a New York address, the website automatically applied a $2 coupon and stated that the item would be delivered free of charge.

This led the American media to admit that although small package tariff exemptions officially ended in May, it still costs the tariff price to purchase these Chinese goods directly, but "Chinese e-commerce apps are irresistible to American users."

Public information shows that DHgate is a leading B2B cross-border e-commerce online trading service platform in China, covering 225 countries and regions worldwide, providing over 100 logistics routes and 14 overseas warehouses, with global business offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, etc.

TechCrunch cited DHgate data reporting that on April 12, the global downloads of DHgate reached 35,400 times in Apple App Store and Google Play Store, an increase of 56% compared to the average downloads over the past 30 days. Of these, the U.S. market accounted for 17,300 downloads, an increase of 98% compared to the average over the past 30 days.

By Sunday (the 13th), the iOS downloads of DHgate surged to 117,500, an increase of 732% compared to the 30-day average. The number of downloads and installations by American users skyrocketed to 65,100, an increase of 940%.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for DHgate said, "We are grateful but remain humble for this astonishing growth in traffic. As a company deeply rooted in cross-border e-commerce, our priority remains enhancing the digital trade experience for global consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises."

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493745363750093324/

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