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Chinese e-commerce platforms gain global popularity, showcasing appeal of ‘Made in China’By Lin Xiaoyi, Hu Yuwei and Shen Sheng (Global Times) 09:07, April 24, 2025
"Thank you, Chinese suppliers -we love you! Please drop your business or factory links below comments section for clothing, furniture, wigs, and more." This was the message Courtney Ferguson, a New York shopper, posted on RedNote, China's popular lifestyle social media platform, on April 14.
The post quickly went viral, amassing nearly 1,300 likes, shares, and comments. Beneath it, a lively exchange unfolded: Chinese suppliers and manufacturers showcased their high-quality products and themselves as trusted suppliers, while American users enthusiastically shared their favorite online shopping tips for Chinese goods.
"Tariffs did not scare American consumers away from Chinese goods; On the contrary, they made American middlemen lose their job." A trending phrase now circulating on social media platforms captures the current zeitgeist.
Since the US government's reckless imposition of tariffs on trading partners has caused retail prices of goods in the US to surge three to five-fold, a growing number of buyers and sellers are embracing direct cross-border commerce, with Chinese suppliers increasingly marketing their goods in English on social media platforms like RedNote and TikTok. Some American shoppers, who seek affordability, variety, and reliability, continue to flock to the platform to meet with Chinese suppliers directly.
According to Qimai Data, a mobile application data analysis platform, Chinese e-commerce platforms, including DHgate, Taobao, Alibaba International, and Shein, are leading in the ranks of shopping app downloads in the US App Store.
"The tariff war launched by the US is affecting businesses, the stock market, and everyone's livelihood. Tariffs have significantly impacted my shopping ideas and habits because I will have to pay more money for everything," Ferguson said, sharing her panic with the Global Times.
While American consumers express growing concern, some Chinese exporters remain calm.
"They're envious of what we offer," said Liu Zichang, a Yiwu-based export service provider, noting that the reason US consumers and businesses are increasingly choosing Chinese products is due to the resilience and stability of China's supply chain system, which allows foreign trade companies and factories in China to be well-prepared for the impending challenges ahead.
'I felt very confident about the products'
As a designer, Ferguson scans TikTok and RedNote daily for deals - not from Amazon or big-box retailers, but directly from Chinese manufacturers. "Honestly, every product category makes me want to buy Chinese goods," she said. "If I checked the labels in my home, most would say 'Made in China.'"
Ferguson used to rely on traditional channels like Amazon to purchase Chinese-made goods. But recent US tariff hikes have sent the prices of everyday essentials - from soap and toothpaste to toilet paper and shampoo - soaring. The surge in costs hasn't just strained her budget; she's also worried that rising prices will eat into her disposable income, leaving less for life outside of work.
Her solution? Cutting out the middlemen. "Traditional retailers like Amazon or brand websites are just buying from the same Chinese factories and marking up the prices - they're middlemen at the end of the day," she explained.
A TikTok user echoed this sentiment in a video that garnered over 16.5 million views, asking, "What do American companies think we're going to do? Pay their prices instead of Chinese prices when I can get a thousand times more products for the same price?" According to a report by NBC News, the user concluded, "We're not going to do that."
Consumers are finding hope in the increasing presence of Chinese sellers on social media platforms, showcasing a wide range of products, from furniture and home appliances, to household goods and clothing, in English. Some posts have even exceeded 500,000 views on X platform. This trend allows American consumers to compare prices across borders, revealing the hidden layers of profit between factories and retail shelves.
The popularity of tutorials such as "How to Shop on Taobao" has surged on various social media platforms. Many overseas influencers are sharing their entire shopping process in English, and the comments section is flooded with inquiries from international users asking how to place orders and choose shipping companies.
Ferguson noted that the key factors that convinced her to place her order was the good reviews and also a confirmation by the factory that the service carrier was a legitimate carrier with the estimated delivery arrival times confirmed. Now, she's counting down the days until her Made-in-China purchases arrive.
New phenomena under shadow of tariffs
When Liu began to help Chinese manufacturers create promotional videos for overseas bulk buyers, she never expected them to go viral, especially among an unexpected audience: American retail consumers.
