China news and archive

China turns inward as U.S. tariffs upend export-driven retail models

As escalating U.S. tariffs reshape the global trade landscape, Beijing is pivoting towards domestic consumption to shore up its export-reliant industries. The move, which carries significant implications for the international fashion supply chain, signals a critical rebalancing of China’s manufacturing-led growth model. In a joint statement...

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Trump bumps up tariffs on Chinese imports to 245 percent

US president Donald Trump has once again bumped up tariffs on Chinese imports. In the latest update from the White House, the Trump administration now said “China faces up to a 245 percent tariff on imports to the US as a result of its retaliatory actions”. This includes a 125 percent reciprocal tariff, a 20 percent tariff to address the...

Fashion

EU flags surge in unsafe Chinese cosmetics

Brussels has raised the alarm over a surge in unsafe cosmetic imports from China, with the European Commission warning on Wednesday that cosmetics now account for a third of all dangerous product alerts across the EU. The findings, published in the EU’s annual Safety Gate report—its rapid alert system for hazardous non-food products—highlight a...

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Nike Doubles down on China with new Shanghai creative studio

As Washington intensifies efforts to lure companies back to domestic manufacturing—dangling tariff exemptions as incentives—Nike has opted to chart a different course. The American sportswear giant announced this week that it will deepen its investment in China, unveiling plans to open a new creative studio in Shanghai. The facility will fall...

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LVMH’s Q1 sales drop highlights luxury is under pressure

LVMH, the world’s largest luxury conglomerate and a barometer for the broader industry, reported a 5 per cent decline in earnings from its fashion and leather goods division in the first quarter, casting a long shadow over what was expected to be a year of cautious recovery. The French giant’s challenges may well extend into the second quarter,...

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JD.com commits to supporting Chinese exporters amid tariff uncertainty

E-commerce giant JD.com is set to launch a 200 billion yuan (20.57 billion pounds) fund to help support Chinese exporters as uncertainty over tariffs continues to weigh on the market. In a statement to Reuters, the Chinese firm said it would send its own employees to domestic companies associated with foreign trade to purchase their “...

Fashion Featured

Shanghai Fashion Week: AW25 trends from China

Almost 100 fashion brands - from up-and-coming designers to major fashion groups - presented their collections during Shanghai Fashion Week. The variety of styles was extensive, ranging from minimalist, casual to avant-garde. Some ingredients, however, could be found across catwalks. Here are six autumn/winter 2025 trends from China. Fringe...

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Shanghai Fashion Week: How ambitious brands and boutiques defy sluggish business

The catwalks and showrooms at Shanghai Fashion Week impressed with variety and quality in the AW25 season, especially among the younger labels. The country's budding fashion scene is profiting from the local manufacturing expertise and has evolved rapidly over the past decade, despite a tough apparel market that is showing some signs of...

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China imposes 34 percent retaliatory tariffs on US products

China has announced countermeasures on imports from the US, which will amount to up to 34 percent. According to the Customs Commission of the State Council of China, the tariffs will go into effect on April 10. The decision is a response to the "Liberation Day" import duties announced by the US government on Wednesday. The additional tariffs led...

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Trump orders end to duty-free relief for small parcels from China

US President Donald Trump signed an order Wednesday to close a duty-free exemption for small parcels from China, in a move likely to severely disrupt the import of popular low-cost products. The rule has faced heavy scrutiny as US officials pointed to the growth of Chinese-founded online retailers Shein and Temu as a factor behind a surge of...

RetailFeatured

Zara launches flagship store model in China: first vending machines and Zacaffè in Asia

Spanish apparel giant Inditex has reaffirmed its commitment to China as a key market for future growth. Zara, the group's flagship brand, recently unveiled a new flagship store in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province. This new location showcases latest store concept, featuring the brand's first apparel vending machines and Asia's first...

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From domestic success to global expansion: Key insights on China’s fashion market

Chinese brands have gained in popularity at home and abroad over the past years but sluggish domestic consumer spending and uncertainty amid evolving trade tensions are weighing on the outlook of China’s apparel industry. Here are eight insights about China’s clothing sector from the spring edition fashion fair Chic. 1. Sluggish consumption...