TikTok Influencers Promote Direct Deals with Chinese Factories
"Buy Products Sold Expensively in the U.S. at Cheap Prices"
"Lululemon leggings that cost over $100 in the United States are only $5 at factories in China."
This is the content of a video posted by a Chinese influencer on the online video platform Tiktok.
A video of a Chinese manufacturer revealing the cost and manufacturing process of luxury goods on TikTok (left). A Chinese influencer promoting that Lululemon activewear can be purchased for 5 to 6 dollars (right). TikTok capture
According to Bloomberg News and others on the 15th (local time), recently, videos by Chinese influencers exposing the cost of American brand products and encouraging direct transactions with Chinese factories have been posted one after another on Tiktok. They promoted that "you won't believe the prices we offer," claiming that you can order products from famous American brands directly from Chinese factories at prices much cheaper than those sold in the United States.
The brands appearing in the videos range from Lululemon to Nike. There are also videos claiming that famous luxury brand bags such as Louis Vuitton and Prada are made in China, then shipped to Italy and France where logos are attached before being sold at high prices.
One influencer posted a video stating, "Herm?s Birkin bags are being made in China," claiming that Herm?s Birkin bags sold for $38,000 (about 54.17 million KRW) can be manufactured in Chinese factories for $1,400 (about 1.9 million KRW). He held a leather bag and fluently explained the manufacturing costs for each process, from the leather material to labor costs, in English, then even suggested, "If you need a bag of the same quality as a Herm?s Birkin bag without the logo, buy from us."
These videos are gaining popularity with millions of views under titles such as "China Revealed the Truth" and "How to Bypass Tariffs." Analysts suggest that China has started a psychological warfare campaign on social media targeting American consumers. This is seen as targeting American consumers who have been hit hard by soaring prices amid the trade war intensifying, such as the Trump administration imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese products.
It is unclear whether ordering directly through suppliers introduced by Chinese influencers in the videos can actually bypass tariffs. However, the videos show that Chinese products are produced at low costs, but American consumers end up paying much higher prices due to reseller profiteering and tariff increases, which is interpreted as an attempt to criticize U.S. tariff policies.
Alex Goldberg, senior advisor at Rutgers University's Network Research Institute, told Bloomberg, "It appears to be a calculated attempt to weaken President Trump's China tariff policy by promoting easier and cheaper access to Chinese manufacturing through Tiktok."
Meanwhile, the number of Tiktok users in the United States is estimated to reach 170 million. Although Tiktok is popular in the U.S., it has been suspected of exerting undue influence on public opinion within the country. Due to concerns over national security threats, the so-called 'Tiktok Ban Act' was created during the previous Joe Biden administration.
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