Chinese Factories Stunned Moments After Trump’s Tariff Spike as Phones Flood with Cancellations

Factories at the heart of China’s manufacturing machine were met with a rude awakening shortly after President Donald Trump unveiled his latest tariff hike, triggering an almost immediate wave of bad news from overseas clients.

The chaos began after Trump announced on April 9 via Truth Social that there would be a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs—but only for nations willing to engage in honest trade negotiations. In that same post, Trump blasted Beijing’s “lack of respect” for global markets and slapped a staggering 125 percent tariff on Chinese goods.

“At some point, hopefully in the near future,” Trump stated, “China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.”

This steep increase followed a series of prior escalations between Washington and Beijing. As the Associated Press reported, Trump’s initial tariffs on Chinese products were each set at 10 percent. Those were followed by a 34 percent surge, then another 50 percent layered on top—bringing the total rate to a jaw-dropping 104 percent before the most recent hike.

Mere minutes after the latest increase took effect, Chinese businesses began receiving calls with crushing news.

According to The Wall Street Journal, customers began backing out of orders or demanding major price cuts. One such call reached Chen Qingxin, a toy and novelty manufacturer, who was informed by a Maryland client that a March order slated for June delivery was being canceled altogether.

Projections now suggest that shipments from China to the U.S. could be slashed by as much as 50 percent if the elevated tariffs remain in place long-term.

Another business owner, Chen Qirun, who exports PVC pipes, told the Journal that his clients were suddenly asking for price reductions between 8 percent and 30 percent.

It’s not just small American businesses applying pressure to Chinese suppliers. Tech giant Amazon is also pulling out of deals. Bloomberg revealed that the company has started canceling orders for Chinese-made goods, including lawn chairs, scooters, and air conditioners. While Amazon hasn’t officially cited the tariffs as the reason, the timing strongly suggests that surging costs are behind the sudden change.

For years, the United States has depended on China for everything from low-cost raw materials to finished consumer products. This reliance has transferred substantial wealth across the Pacific, undermining American manufacturing while reinforcing a regime known for human rights abuses, censorship, and the repression of minority groups.

There’s no denying that Trump’s tariffs will cause short-term pain.

But the bigger picture, as the former president sees it, is not about “flipping the board” and abandoning the global trade system—it’s about recalibrating America’s economic relationships into something more equitable and sustainable.