Donald Trump’s hats Photo: Sopa Images Limited / Alamy /
Despite concerns about the negative impact of Donald Trump’s second term on China’s export-oriented economy, one sector is benefiting in an unexpected way. Manufacturers of Trump promotional products have seen a significant increase in demand, according to the South China Morning Post.
Amazon now offers more than 1,000 products featuring Trump’s image and slogans, ranging from clothing to accessories such as socks, flags and figurines. The red cap with the slogan “Make America Great Again” remains one of the most popular items, with more than 10,000 units sold last month alone at a price of $19.99.
Interestingly, most of these goods are manufactured in the Yiwu region of China, which is the largest centre for the production and trade of small goods. This is despite the fact that during his first term in office, Trump actively raised tariffs on Chinese goods in an attempt to reduce US dependence on Chinese imports.
“Before the election, we were getting a few orders a day, but the night the results were announced, the number of orders increased to over 3,000 in one night,” says Ricky Luo, one of the Amazon sellers. In just two days, Luo and his team earned more than $20,000. The caps cost him only $0.56 per unit to produce, and the retail price in the US is $9, which ensures high profitability.
After the election, the number of requests for Trump products increased tenfold, says an entrepreneur who helps Chinese companies sell their products on foreign markets.
Analysts predict that Trump’s second term could lead to a new aggravation of trade relations between the US and China. In his election promises, Trump stated that he might increase duties on Chinese imports by up to 60%, which could be a serious challenge for Chinese manufacturers.
