Yiwu Defies US Tariffs, Finds Fortune in New Markets

When US-China trade tensions spiked last April, Yiwu trader Wang Nan braced for impact. "Last year, we still had many American clients, but the tariffs changed everything," she said. Her hardware company faced sudden US tariffs that sometimes exceeded 100%. But Wang's firm did more than survive. It grew stronger. The strategy was a rapid shift to new markets. The company aggressively pursued buyers in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. This pivot paid off. It turned a threat into an opportunity for expansion. Yiwu, often called the "world's supermarket," is filled with thousands of small traders like Wang. Their adaptability is now shielding China's vast export sector from trade war shocks. By finding new customers, they reduce reliance on any single market.