Viral video shows surprise impact Trump tariffs on China’s supermarkets | World | News
A viral video appears to show Donald Trump‘s tariffs on China backfiring on supermarket shelves. Footage widely shared on social media features a woman who claims she can’t find any US beef on the shelves, but plenty of Australian beef instead. She suggests Chinese importers have dumped US grown meat for products from Down Under in a blow to US producers.
Speaking in English, the woman explains how she entered a supermarket in China, searching for beef, in a bid to show how Mr Trump’s tariffs are affecting Chinese consumers. She said while American beef used to be on the shelves this has now been replaced with Australian alternatives.
She then holds up a packet of meat to the camera, pointing to a label which the shopper says shows the beef’s country of origin as Australia.
The woman says: “I couldn’t find one pack of beef from America so I guess China stopped buying beef from America and it went straight to Australia.
“So the whole idea that China is ‘hurting’ because of the American tariffs – well they’re not because they’re not as dependent on the US.”
She goes on to say she probably trusts the Australian beef over US on food quality, adding: “China ain’t hurting. And if anything I think we’re probably doing even better because now that we have better beef that tastes better and at a better price. So thank you Trump for that.”
The woman tells viewers the box of beef she holds costs 50 RMB which she said equals about US$7.
Under the terms of a free trade agreement between China and Australia, beef from Down Under isn’t subject to tariffs. Beijing can, however, maintain a limit on imports.
But since Mr Trump announced his tariffs, the price of US beef has risen by 50%, according to US media outlet, NBC News.
Beijing and Washington have accused one another of violating a trade war truce in recent days. The US has since said Mr Trump was expecting to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday (June 3) they had no information about that.
Under a deal struck in May, the Trump administration lowered tariffs imposed on goods from China from 145% to 30%. China reduced its retaliatory tariffs on US goods from 125% to 10%.
US beef is only one product to fall foul of the trade war between the US and China. US beef exports to China had amounted to $125million (£92.5m) per month, according to Reuters.
However, the news agency reports that even before the trade war US beef prices were having an impact on cost-conscious consumers in China.
Years of dry weather had led to shortages as herds shrank to their smallest since the 1950s. Australian producers now appear to be filling the gap.
