Mostly engraved in Chinese factories that supposedly supply the main US brands, from Lululemon Athletic Inc. Even Nike Inc., the influencers intend “show”How the vast majority of consumer goods in the second largest economy in the world are manufactured.
Many of them provide web addresses and contact data so that followers can buy directly from these suppliers. “Why don’t they contact us and buy? They will not believe the prices we can give them!“, said
In another video, Tiktok content creator @Lunasourcingchinaappears outside a factory that, according to her, manufactures Yoga Lululemon leggings for US $ 5 or US $ 6, although in the United States they are sold for more than US $ 100. “The material and work are basically the same”, He says.
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A spokesman for Lululemon He said that the company manufactures approximately 3% of its finished products in continental China and that authentic products are only available for purchase in stores Lululemonofficial websites and authorized partners.
Some of the most popular videos (many uploads in March but that only gained popularity in recent days) have been amplified by a video entitled “China exposes the truth”, With 8.3 million views and 492,000 I like, until Monday morning, New York time. The one that reveals to the Chinese supplier of Lululemon He obtained 2.6 million visits and more than 215,000 “I like“, While a clip of”How to avoid tariffs“It had about 1 million visits and 118,000”I like”
The large volume of similar theme videos in a short period of time points to a popular reaction against the barrage of tariffs of President Donald Trump, including a tax of 145% to China.
Although it is not clear how the fact of directly orders to Chinese suppliers would allow consumers to avoid tariffs – the exemption of customs rights for small packages that are sent to US homes will also be eliminated from May 2 – the videos reflect the worldwide reaction to Trump tariffs and the narrative of the White House that economic measures benefit Americans.
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The avalanche of publications also reflects the greatest efficacy of Chinese creators to reach the daily life of the Americans on foot. The algorithm of Tiktokand its ability to influence the information that millions of US users see, is one of the main driving forces of US government efforts to force its Chinese owner, Bytedance Ltd., to give control of their international operations. Tiktok did not respond immediately to a comment request.
Other Chinese social media applications such as Xiaohongshu either Net Note They have also gained popularity among young American users amid uncertainty about access to Tiktok.
“These publications are much more confrontative and mocking with the US, instead of showing it as a threat“, said Tom HarperProfessor of Chinese International Relations at the University of East London. They follow a wave of images generated by AI showing Americans working in assembly lines, he added Harper.
Some of the videos directly criticize US commercial policies and ask US citizens to take measures.
“For decades, their government and its oligarchs have sent their jobs to China, not for diplomacy, or for peace, but to exploit cheap labor and, in the process, end their middle class, sink their working class and ask them to feel proud while selling their future to obtain benefits”Said the user @neil778027 In a video. “American, they don’t need a tariff, they need a revolution”
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On Friday, the US announced tariff exemptions for a range of Chinese products, such as electronic products, computers and semiconductors, although its duration is unknown. In any case, they will not have an impact on most products exported by China to the US, including clothes and accessories produced by Chinese suppliers that appear in the videos of Tiktok.
Many European luxury brands of high -end also appear, but the creators of the videos do not explain why they show European brands in their rejection of the United States.
Another key issue that videos raises is whether factories have confidentiality agreements with their international clients and how videos could affect long -standing commercial relations between brands and their manufacturers.
Cameron Johnsonmain partner of the consultant Tidalwave Solutionsbased in Shanghai, which recently visited the Yiwu Chinese manufacturing center, sees it as part of a fundamental change in China’s purchase practices.
“In the past, an intermediary was used or a commercial company to stock up for products for your business with quality control or visit the factory, establish those relationships and then, perhaps go from time to time”, Told Bloomberg TV.“But now what we are seeing is a complete democratization of product supply”
