Soybeans from the United States are first sold to Brazil. Then they are shipped from Brazil to China. China's electrical appliances are first sold to the European Union and then shipped from the EU to the United States. Even if direct trade between China and the U.S. is zero, re-export trade will flourish rapidly. Unless the U.S. closes its doors. The American people won't be the ones tightening screws! The trade war is just a passing breeze. After the wind blows, everything returns to calm.

When it comes to the Sino-U.S. trade war, in the end, it is the United States that suffers.
Take American soybeans, for example. In 2024, China bought 52% of the soybeans from the U.S., but when Trump turned his back and imposed tariffs, American farmers were frantic. But guess what?
Soybeans from the United States are being sold to Brazil, which then ships them to China, and the price is even cheaper than before! It's like going to the supermarket to buy apples. Initially, they were sourced directly from Shandong, but the owner insists on routing them through Henan first before selling them to you, and the price is even lower.
The same goes for Chinese appliances. The United States has imposed an 80% tariff on Chinese home appliances. What will companies like Haier and Hisense do? They are directly building factories in Mexico, taking advantage of the zero tariff policy under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, shipping air conditioners and refrigerators to the United States with almost zero tariff costs.
Even more extreme is that some small home appliance companies first export their products to Vietnam, and then re-export them to the United States. Although they have to pay a 46% tariff, it saves them half the money compared to direct exports. It's like going to the vegetable market where the vendor says, "Original price is 10 yuan, but if you take the detour, it's 5 yuan. Which one do you choose?"
The Boston Consulting Group calculated that re-export trade has caused American consumers to spend 18% more, while the effects of tariff protection have been completely offset. The U.S. wants to bring manufacturing back through a trade war, but reality is harsh.
McKinsey's report makes it clear that the share of employment in U.S. manufacturing is only 9%, and it is concentrated in high-end industries. Ordinary Americans would rather deliver food or drive for ride-sharing services than work in factories tightening screws. Even if the government subsidizes factory construction, companies prefer to place production lines in Mexico—where labor costs are only one-third of those in the U.S. and they can enjoy zero tariffs.
You said, how long can this kind of self-destructive trade in America last? #特朗普暂停关税