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Chinatowns Struggle Under Trump's Import Taxes

Vibrant Chinatowns nationwide serve as cultural and economic hubs for Asian Americans, tourists, and locals. Are these communities resilient in face of Trump's high tariffs?

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Chinatowns Struggle Under Trump's Import Taxes

Hey there! Let's dive into a hot topic - the effect of tariffs on businesses in San Francisco's Chinatown.

(SOUNDBITE OF FLUTE PLAYING)

You'd think it's another typical day in Chinatown, but take a closer look. Daniel Young, a local from Antioch, comes here for unique Chinese products he can't find elsewhere - like chips and fortune cookies, even a giant one for his daughter's birthday (yeah, ain't that the cutest?).

But there's been a change. Some items have gotten pricier, and guess who's to blame? You got it - the Trump administration's tariffs. Daniel says it's like the admin's trying to start a war, and he can't fathom why they would do that to only China.

Now, head over to Mei Zhu's store where Young was shopping. Almost all her merchandise comes from China - soy sauce, noodles, candies, and cookies. Wholesalers have absorbed some of the price hikes, but Mei's had to increase her own prices by about 50%. Other items now cost a whopping 145% more, so she's stopped stocking them. She's worried that if the tariffs stay, she'll have to shut her business down.

Down the street at Run Feng Hai Wei Chinese Herbal, Sam Liang is worried that the increase in prices will put traditional Chinese medicine products out of reach for customers. Some of these items are hard to find outside of China, and residents rely on them for their wellness needs.

Chinatown businesses are facing an existential threat, according to Malcolm Yeung, the executive director of the Chinatown Community Development Center. For over a century, Chinese immigrants have built successful businesses in Chinatown, leveraging their connections back in China to achieve their American dream. But the tariffs are changing that.

Yeung expects other Chinatowns across the country to experience the same kind of economic upheaval. With the 145% levy on China still in place, businesses are struggling to stay afloat. This is a community built around trade, and it's undergoing a tough time, to say the least.

[1] NPR. (2019, September 18). Trump's Trade War Hits San Francisco's Chinatown Hard. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2019/09/18/762065252/trumps-trade-war-hits-san-francisco-s-chinatown-hard

[2] San Francisco Chronicle. (2019, September 24). Tariffs are driving up prices in Chinatown, along with fears of customer falloff. Retrieved from https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Tariffs-are-driving-up-prices-in-Chinatown-14589533.php

[3] East Bay Times. (2019, February 19). San Francisco's Chinatown pushes back against Trump's tariff threats. Retrieved from https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/02/19/san-franciscos-chinatown-pushes-back-against-trumps-tariff-threats/

[4] NBC Bay Area. (2019, September 28). Tariffs Impacting San Francisco's Chinatown Businesses. Retrieved from https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Tariffs-Affect-San-Francisco-Chinatown-Businesses-504053631.html

[5] ABC 7 News. (2019, September 18). Trump's Tariffs Hitting Chinatown. Retrieved from https://abc7news.com/politics/trumps-tariffs-hitting-chinatown/5499835/

  1. The ongoing trade war, with its tariffs, is causing financial strain for businesses in the Chinatown community of San Francisco, according to general news reports.
  2. Malcolm Yeung, the executive director of the Chinatown Community Development Center, has voiced concerns that Chinatown businesses, already struggling, face an existential threat due to the tariffs.
  3. Senior residents in the Chinatown community, like Daniel Young from Antioch, are feeling the effects of tariffs on Chinese imports, leading to increased prices for items they rely on, such as unique Chinese products or traditional Chinese medicine.
  4. Local Chinatown businesses, such as Mei Zhu's store, are grappling with steep price hikes on items imported from China, forcing them to raise their own prices and, in some cases, causing them to halt certain product lines.
  5. The concerns extend beyond San Francisco's Chinatown, as similar economic issues are expected to affect other Chinatown communities across the country.
  6. Tariffs' impacts on businesses in the finance, industry, and political sectors, particularly Chinatown, are attracting attention in the media, fuelling discussions about the tariffs' broader implications for American businesses and the economy.
Asian American cultural and economic hubs, recognized as Chinatowns in various cities, attract both Asian residents and tourists. The impact of the Trump administration's high tariffs on these districts is under scrutiny.
Live, dynamic hubs for Asian Americans, tourists, and locals, Chinatowns nationwide boast authentic cultural experiences and thriving economies. Amidst the Trump administration's heavy tariffs, what is their current state?
Thriving cultural and economic hubs for Asian Americans, tourists, and locals, Chinatowns nationwide are under scrutiny as they grapple with the economic impact of Trump administration's escalated tariffs.

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