Growing Anti-Banh Mi Sentiment in China... 2,700 Won 'Trump Toilet Brush' Gains Popularity

A City Specializing in Low-Cost Exports Hit Hard
by Reciprocal Tariffs

As the tariff dispute between the United States and China intensifies, anti-Trump sentiment is also spreading within China. Online, a 'toilet brush' resembling U.S. President Donald Trump has become popular.

On the 15th (local time), the Chinese-language media outlet Sichuan Daily reported that photos of a toilet brush satirizing President Trump have been circulating on Chinese social networking services (SNS). This toilet brush has become a popular item on various online shopping platforms. On short-form streaming platforms like TikTok, videos of cleaning a Western-style toilet with this brush have received enthusiastic responses. The price of the toilet brush is reportedly as low as 13.9 yuan (about 2,700 won).

A 'Trump Toilet Brush' made in the likeness of Donald Trump, the President of the United States. SNS capture

The toilet brush features a brush attached to the head part of a character model humorously mimicking President Trump. The product was first introduced in 2021 and is said to have been created to satirize his actions during Trump's first administration. At that time, it was only a brief sensation, but as U.S.-China tensions escalated during Trump's second term, it began to attract attention again.

In particular, this toilet brush is highly popular in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, China, and local netizens have reportedly nicknamed it the "Yiwu Counterattack." Yiwu is a city specializing in low-cost consumer goods exported to the United States. As a result, it is said to have been directly hit by the "reciprocal tariffs" imposed by President Trump.

China's economic newspaper First Financial claimed, "Yiwu merchants are standing firm against U.S. importers' demands for price reductions," adding that they are "shifting their sales channels to Europe and the domestic market" for their consumer goods exports.

The United States currently imposes reciprocal tariff rates of up to 145% on China. Earlier, after President Trump took office, he pointed out the inflow of Chinese-made fentanyl precursors and imposed a so-called "fentanyl tariff" of 20%, followed by a reciprocal tariff rate of 125%, bringing the total to 145%. In retaliation, China imposed a 125% tariff on U.S. imports and additionally halted exports of certain rare earth minerals to the U.S.