Chinese exporters remain on edge as uncertainty over U.S. trade policy continues, despite a temporary extension of the tariff truce between Beijing and Washington. Many fear that President Donald Trump’s policies will continue to test their resilience, with concerns voiced at the China Cross-Border E-Commerce Trade Fair in Guangzhou over the weekend.
The semi-annual fair, which ran until 18 August in the capital of Guangdong province, attracted major platforms such as Shein, Temu, TikTok Shop and Amazon. Each platform used the event to court more Chinese exporters to sell on their sites, targeting buyers in the U.S. and other international markets.
Exporters voice concerns despite tariff truce
The 90-day extension of the tariff truce has done little to calm nerves among exporters. Companies such as Guangdong Mingjian Electronics Technology, which sells portable coffee machines through Amazon, remain cautious. “We are still worried about policy uncertainties,” said company representative Chen Jianlun. He revealed that the firm was forced to suspend its U.S. business for nearly two months from April, when trade tensions worsened.
This sentiment reflects broader concerns over Trump’s unpredictable trade approach. Three rounds of high-level talks have been held, but exporters say confidence remains shaky. Tank Zhou, sales manager at logistics and supply chain provider EDA Group, explained that many clients halted U.S. shipments for about a month when tariffs were first raised. “Although shipments have restarted, merchants feel they’re passive [in making decisions],” Zhou said.
Seasonal sales hit by trade tensions
The effects of the trade dispute have been particularly pronounced for businesses that rely on seasonal orders. Yiwu Shuangyuan Christmas Artware, a supplier of festive decorations from Zhejiang province, reported that some agreements collapsed during the initial tariff hike. Saleswoman Zhu Xiaolin confirmed that despite the disruption, the company has managed to secure enough clients to meet this year’s Christmas demand.
Other companies have looked to diversify. Zhou from EDA has advised clients to adopt a multimarket strategy, spreading risk by expanding beyond the U.S. He noted that the company’s warehouses in Germany and the UK are expected to experience faster growth in the third quarter as merchants shift their focus towards Europe.
Meanwhile, Chen from Guangdong Mingjian Electronics stated that the firm is exploring opportunities under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with a particular focus on South Africa and other markets in the region.
Platforms seek to broaden opportunities
While exporters weigh the risks, major e-commerce platforms are seeking to enhance their appeal to sellers. Amazon trainer Sandy Zhu recommended that new merchants enter the U.S. market, highlighting its large traffic volume and what she described as a “lower threshold” for doing business compared to other regions.
Elsewhere, Latin America’s largest online marketplace, Mercado Libre, has reported growing interest from Chinese merchants. Jason Li, the platform’s merchant acquisition manager, explained that inquiries have increased in recent months after the platform lowered the entry requirements for opening a shop. Previously, merchants were required to maintain a sales record on other platforms, but this condition has now been waived. Li said that the policy change, combined with U.S. trade uncertainty, has driven more Chinese exporters to consider the platform.
As the tariff deadline loomed, Trump urged China to quadruple its purchases of U.S. soybeans, one of America’s key exports to the country. He also suggested that a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping could take place before the end of the year if both sides reach a trade deal. For now, however, Chinese exporters remain wary, balancing short-term survival with longer-term market diversification strategies.
