Hoping Christmas Isn't "Stolen" – US Businesses Eager for Chinese Imports to Return to Normal

For years, China-US Christmas goods trade has typically followed this rhythm: US importers place orders in spring, Chinese factories operate at full capacity in summer, container ships laden with goods set sail from ports by early September, and by Black Friday, American store shelves are stocked with festive products from China.

In the Christmas section of the Zhejiang Yiwu International Trade Market, everything from traditional Christmas trees and fairy lights to smart decorations is available in a dazzling array of complete categories. Vendors skillfully serve buyers from around the world in foreign languages while quickly recording order information, creating a bustling scene.

Yiwu, the "World Supermarket," is the largest distribution center for Christmas products globally, exporting over 20,000 categories of Christmas items to more than 100 countries and regions annually. According to Hangzhou Customs data, Yiwu's Christmas product exports reached 5.17 billion yuan in the first three quarters of this year, a 22.9% year-on-year increase.

Bundles of artificial pine needles are evenly tied to metal-branch Christmas trees, piled high in warehouses alongside assorted Christmas ornaments. At Yiwu Duoxi Import and Export Co., Ltd., business manager Chen Xiaotao told reporters: "Orders arrived early this year. In previous years, the shipment peak was from June to August, but this year it started in April." He observed that amid complex and severe trade conditions, many foreign buyers have heightened their awareness of stocking inventory in advance, leading companies to prepare goods earlier.

In April this year, the US significantly increased tariffs on Chinese goods, severely impacting China-US trade. "When tariffs rose to 45%, we felt the tension. When they later reached 145%, it became impossible to do business. We paused shipments to US clients and focused on orders from EU customers," said Nie Ziqin, a vendor at the Yiwu International Trade Market.

Amid the headwinds of tariffs, Yiwu's Christmas product industry continues to strengthen product innovation and increase R&D investment, showing a trend of export market diversification. Nie Ziqin shared that this year, her company's Halloween products are mainly sold to Italy, Spain, Mexico, and other countries. "We find ways to open up new paths – this is the embodiment of resilience."