YIWU, Zhejiang - In April 2025, when the US government announced "reciprocal tariffs" of up to 245% on Chinese goods, many American buyers sent urgent requests to Chinese exporters to suspend orders. Nie Ziqin, a foreign trade merchant in the Yiwu Small Commodity City, made headlines when she boldly told US media: "If American customers don't want it, we'll sell to other customers." Her fearless attitude amid high tariffs quickly made her a viral sensation in China.
Another success story is Chen Meihua, a 15-year veteran of Yiwu's outdoor products export industry. She predicted the summer 2026 demand surge for cooling products a full year in advance and led her factory to produce dual-power fan hats that sold over 500,000 units in the US market at a 5-6x price premium.
These stories reflect a broader trend: Yiwu's 30,000-plus SMEs, many led by seasoned entrepreneurs, have built an industrial ecosystem that no single country can easily replicate. Their secret lies not just in low costs, but in rapid response to market trends, flexible production capabilities, and an unparalleled concentration of supply chain resources. In 2025, Yiwu's total foreign trade exceeded 820 billion yuan, and in Q1 2026, despite ongoing tariff pressures, the city posted 25% growth.
Source: National Business Daily, NetEase, 2026
