Graphika In The News: China tariffs insights featured in the New York Times

Ongoing tariff tensions between the United States and China have led to the creation of TikTok videos urging users to source products directly from Chinese factories and evade U.S. tariffs.

The New York Times has featured insights from Graphika in an article looking at the trend and its rapid rise in recent weeks.

"The volume of TikTok videos urging users to source products directly from Chinese factories soared almost 250 percent during the week of April 13, according to Margot Hardy, an analyst at Graphika," states the report.

Graphika also shared with the Times that the volume of videos began increasing in early March, rising more than 30% from the previous month before its dramatic leap in mid-April. The jump was a result of U.S.-based fashion and travel influencers posting about the trend and sharing advice from self-described "factory sourcing" experts.

"Some of the influencers described the situation as a potential business opportunity for savvy users, while others said it showed ‘China is not playing games’ in a burgeoning trade war with the U.S.," Graphika told the outlet.

The TikTok accounts push consumers to bypass U.S. tariffs through actors sharing URLs and contact details for ordering directly from Chinese suppliers. A recent Graphika intelligence insight stated that this activity highlights pro-China actors’ efforts to undermine U.S. tariffs and promote Chinese manufacturing as a viable alternative.