One evident issue in the past month has been tariffs, which President Trump has claimed he would impose during his campaign. China has been the most affected, facing tariffs of over 100%. Unsurprisingly, there has been retaliation—not just from the government, but from the people as well.

Across China, many have taken to social media to voice their opinions, with TikTok being a popular platform. These opinions range from supporting their government in standing up to the tariffs to urging the government to comply with U.S. demands. For context, these tariffs are detrimental to the Chinese economy, as a large portion of the population relies on manufacturing for their income—leaving many struggling to provide for their families.

In response, some manufacturers have started selling products directly to consumers, effectively removing the need for middlemen and reducing prices significantly. One notable example is Lululemon products, which saw prices decreased by more than half when purchased straight from the factory.

This shift has led to declining sales for many established brands due to the redirection of consumer purchases. The question now is: how widespread will this trend become, and how will it affect product pricing in the long term?