Mass protests have erupted across China as President Donald Trump’s sweeping 145% tariffs on Chinese imports begin to take a heavy toll on the country’s economy. Factories in key industrial regions such as Hunan and Zhejiang are shutting down, triggering mass layoffs and sparking widespread worker unrest over unpaid wages and lost income.
The economic shock has caused a sharp drop in China’s industrial output, with export orders plunging to their lowest levels in three years. In response, Beijing retaliated with tariffs as high as 125% on American products, but the move has done little to ease domestic anxiety.
Facing growing instability, Chinese officials are now pushing for stronger trade relationships with partners in Southeast Asia, the UK, and the European Union in an effort to offset the damage. Meanwhile, China’s leadership is under intense pressure to stabilize the economy and address mounting public frustration as the trade standoff with the U.S. shows no sign of resolution.