Inside China's Factories Right Now: Anger, Anxiety, and Determination

Boxes of exported clothes at a garment factory in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, China on April 1 - Photo: REUTERS

Thousands of small export-oriented factories in or near Guangzhou, the commercial hub of southeastern China, have played a central role in China's meteoric economic growth over the past half-century.

With the ability to supply almost any manufactured item at low cost, these factories employ millions of workers from all over the country.

According to the New York Times , now with US President Donald Trump imposing very high tariffs on Chinese goods, many of these small factories are facing difficult times.

Garment factory owners are worried about a series of last-minute cancellations of orders from American customers, causing them to suffer losses.

Meanwhile, factory managers wonder whether low costs will keep them afloat, and workers just hope they will still have jobs in the weeks and months ahead.

Some garment factories that supply the U.S. market have temporarily closed as owners await more clarity on tariffs. Many other factory managers are rushing to find customers in other countries or shifting to domestic consumers.

Even before Mr Trump began tightening the door on Chinese goods to the US market this year, China was already struggling with excess factory capacity. Buyers in other markets were increasingly demanding deeper discounts.

Employees work on a production line producing hats for export to the US at a factory in Jiangsu province, eastern China on April 7 - Photo: AFP

"The trade war has a huge impact, because if we can't export, there will be fewer clothing orders, and we will have no more work," said Ling Meilan, co-owner of a shirt factory.

Here, workers hunched over sewing machines, working at long tables under fluorescent lights.

Ms. Ling is currently focusing on the domestic Chinese market. However, some neighboring factories that mainly export to the United States have temporarily suspended operations.

Ms. Yao, another factory manager, said she mainly supplies Amazon and has seen orders slow. “If the U.S. tariffs are too high, we can’t continue, and I will definitely have to switch to other markets,” she said.

Meanwhile, managers at five factories in Guangzhou said they had seen no signs in recent weeks that workers were willing to accept lower wages.

China's decades-long decline in birth rates has led to a shortage of factory workers nationwide, especially young workers.

Against that backdrop, decades of near-continuous economic growth have left many Chinese manufacturers convinced that they will — somehow — weather the current storm.

"Our country is really getting stronger. Personally, I feel quite satisfied and have great confidence in China," said Ms. Ling.

Mr. Trump revealed the reason for reversing tariffs for many countries, except China - Source: AFP

According to the Global Times , on April 10, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce emphasized: "China's stance is clear and consistent. If the US wants to negotiate, our door is still open, but dialogue must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and equality.

If the US wants confrontation, our response will continue to the end. Pressure, threats and coercion are not the right way to deal with China."

Read more Back to Topics

Back to topic

PEACEFUL

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ben-trong-cac-nha-may-o-trung-quoc-luc-nay-tuc-gian-lo-lang-va-quyet-tam-20250410184120045.htm