Name: China standing firm in face of Trump tariffs
Uploaded: 2025-05-01T14:19:40.569Z
Duration: 2 min 41 s
Description: CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout examines how people and businesses in China will handle a prolonged tariff war with the United States.

CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout examines how people and businesses in China will handle a prolonged tariff war with the United States.

Beijing

Donald Trump has signed an order to impose tariffs imports into the U.S. from countries including China, Mexico and Canada.

Global Tariffs

China is demonstrating resilience amid the ongoing tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. As both nations remain embroiled in a trade conflict, various sectors in China have been impacted, leading to significant economic challenges. Chinese citizens, however, appear prepared to withstand the adverse effects of the tariffs, drawing upon a historical legacy of overcoming hardship. 

The conflict has tangible impacts on both sides, with U.S. consumers facing potential increases in prices for goods, which may fuel inflation and create a risk of recession. Meanwhile, Chinese businesses and workers face potential closures as their products pile up in warehouses due to decreased demand from the U.S. market. The Chinese government, with its centralized control, might reallocate resources to aid its industries during this period, further reflecting their steadfast approach.

Despite the hardships, many Chinese entrepreneurs remain defiant in the face of escalating tariffs. On social media, factory owners and workers express determination, emphasizing their willingness to give up the U.S. market rather than concede in the trade war. They are prepared to endure significant economic loss as a matter of national pride and resilience.



China standing firm in face of Trump tariffs

This will be a fast war. The battle at Lake Changjin is one of China's biggest ever blockbusters. Commissioned by the Chinese government, it glorifies the Chinese soldiers who fought American troops in the Korean War. Fast forward to today and China and the U.S. are locking horns in another epic battle. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them. Be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end. Trump started this war with China, aiming in part to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. Chinese netizens mocked the idea with AI-generated videos showing a post-tariffs world of dingy American factories with downcast workers. Decades of trade have brought bumper profits to both countries. And as U.S.-China trade withers, fortunes are turning. In the U.S., the price of goods could shoot up, fueling inflation and putting the U.S. at real risk of recession. And in China, a prolonged trade war could put countless factories out of business. The question is, how much pain can the people of China handle in the event of a long trade war with the U.S.? I think the Prince Russell is probably higher for Chinese society. The Chinese government being an authoritarian government may have its own advantage because it can more easily reallocate resources. The Chinese have endured famine, the Cultural Revolution and more recently, three years of strict COVID-19 lockdowns before protesters bravely took to the streets. And in this trade war, pain is already being felt. On social media, Chinese factory owners post images of their products piling up in warehouses while workers show how machines and production lines have shut down. Despite a dire economic forecast, many patriotic entrepreneurs are standing firm. Even if the tariffs increase to 500 percent, I'm not afraid. Please rest assured, we can hold on. Stop all the orders. Stop all the export orders. I will not chicken out. We can give up the U.S. market. I can let this batch of orders rot in the warehouse. We must give up illusions and prepare for struggle. For China. In the battle at Lake Changjin, U.S. soldiers are seen gorging on Thanksgiving turkey while Chinese troops chew frozen potatoes in the trenches. Yet, they still beat the Americans later. Trump's trade war pits the U.S. and China in a new challenge of resilience that's not about business or money. It's about honor and national pride.

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