Christmas is still months away, except in Yiwu. This city in the province of Zhejiang in China houses the largest wholesale market, with 75,000 SPROSS Six buildings. One of the buildings offers almost everything China does in terms of artificial Christmas trees, garlands and ornaments. Kitty Shuang Peng took charge of her parents’ factory with her partner in 2024. He was founded 20 years ago with 50 employees.
For the young woman, the commercial war initiated by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, decided on Wednesday, April 9, imposing a 145% rate on Chinese imports, has become a reality. Their American clients have canceled or put their orders on hold. Of the 250,000 trees produced every year, the majority, he said, will go to South America. In 2025, Mexicans have made a significant advance. “They have already ordered me 70,000 of me, which will need to be sent at the end of the summer,” he explained. “I prefer not to ask, but I think a good part will cross the border to the United States.”
On the floor below, Sheng Li, in his forty years, kept repeating that Trump was “crazy” and that the Chinese “were not afraid” as he watched the news on his phone. His factory, using 48 workers, produces Christmas trees ornaments in the Wenzhou suburbs (Zhejiang province). Li is not worried: if the United States disappeared permanently from its clientele, Korea and even Thailand would take over. “It is still an excellent alternative solution because they are increasingly fond of Christmas,” he said. “And I can deliver them in autumn since the delivery times are very short.”
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