On the morning of July 30, Rebecca Tam, Regional Manager of the U.S. company Far East Brokers Ltd., was flooded with updates—the third round of U.S.-China tariff negotiations had concluded in Stockholm, extending the suspended 24% U.S. tariffs and China's countermeasures for another 90 days.
Minutes after the Stockholm tariff negotiation outcome was announced, Rebecca received requests from U.S. clients to reinstate previously canceled orders in China.
This mirrored May's pattern—when the first 90-day truce took effect, several clients similarly reversed their cancellation decisions.
With over 20 years in Sino-U.S. trade, Rebecca facilitates $12 million in annual procurement from Guangdong alone. Chinese products—from cost-effective toys and barbecue equipment to metal racks and holiday decorations—remain favorites among American buyers.
The day the Stockholm news came out, Rebecca was already in Dongguan, a city known as the "world factory," auditing three manufacturers to expand her Guangdong supply network.
These past 100+ days haven't been easy for traders.
"Tariff volatility disrupts pricing. Uncertainty makes U.S. clients hesitant—we've seen cancellations." Yet she notes China's irreplaceability: "For decor items, we can't find alternatives elsewhere. We maintain close partnerships with over 10 Dongguan suppliers despite tariffs."
"Business must go on." This sentiment echoes among U.S. buyers.
In July, South reporters followed Rebecca's visits to Dongguan suppliers—from trendy toys to furniture.
A hard truth was revealed: China's manufacturing edge transcends cost. It's an entire ecosystem mastering R&D, rapid delivery, iterative upgrades, cost, quality, and low minimum order quantity.
"Take sweeping robots for example," says Deng Deng, General Manager of sweeping robot maker Wonjarobot in Dongguan.
"They're algorithm- and AI-intensive—not something cheap labor can replicate. From R&D to mass production, global supply remains concentrated among a few Chinese suppliers," Deng remarked.
Since April's tariff announcement, Wonjarobot's U.S. market share has held steady.
Tap to watch how businesses are navigating the new trade landscape.
Reporter | Huang Xinyi, Hu Nan, Tang Yabing
Script | Huang Xinyi, Hu Nan
Video/Poster | Guo Hongda
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
