Representative Darrell Issa from California discussed the Trump administration’s trade negotiations with more than 100 countries during an appearance on ‘The Evening Edit.’ Recently, videos shared by TikTok users in China have emerged in the United States, suggesting that people should buy fashion items directly from Chinese factories. Bloomberg has reported on these videos, which claim that several apparel brands like Nike and Lululemon source their products from factories in China. The videos praise the quality of Chinese manufacturing and imply that American consumers could purchase apparel and accessories at significantly lower prices by buying directly from these factories instead of through U.S. retailers.
Alex Goldenberg, a senior advisor at the Network Contagion Research Institute, commented to Bloomberg that this campaign may represent a strategic attempt to challenge President Trump’s tariff policies on China by promoting Chinese manufacturing as cheaper, more desirable, and accessible, even defying trade restrictions. The videos have garnered significant engagement on TikTok amid the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on goods from China multiple times, with the latest increase bringing them to 145%. In response, China has raised its tariffs on U.S. imports to 125%. In recent weeks, Trump has also implemented tariffs on other countries. At the beginning of April, the White House announced a 10% baseline levy on imported goods from foreign countries, with higher individualized tariffs on certain nations. On April 9, Trump declared a 90-day pause, during which a 10% tariff would be applied to countries subject to reciprocal tariffs that have not retaliated against the U.S.
This pause was justified by the fact that over 75 countries have reached out to the United States to negotiate solutions to trade-related issues. Trump’s administration has been working on tariff deals, with multiple offers currently under discussion.