BUSINESS

China’s Exports of White Goods Squeezed as Trump’s Tariffs Bite

Published: Aug. 12, 2025 4:51 a.m. GMT+8

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For the first half of 2025, China’s home-appliance exports totaled $59.29 billion, up 5.1% from the same period a year earlier

China’s home-appliance industry, a cornerstone of the country’s export economy, is under strain as escalating U.S. tariffs disrupt global supply chains and weaken demand.

Exports from the sector fell 2.2% year-on-year in the second quarter, according to the China Household Electrical Appliances Association. The decline marks a sharp reversal from first-quarter growth of 13.6% and ends a run of expansion that began in August 2023, said the association’s Vice Chairman Xu Dongsheng.

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China’s home-appliance exports fell 2.2% year-on-year in Q2 2025 after 13.6% growth in Q1, with first-half exports rising 5.1% to $59.29 billion, below 2024’s 12.1% growth.
Successive U.S. tariff hikes under Trump have resulted in a 67% total tariff on key appliances, straining Chinese firms, especially smaller brands, which have shifted exports toward Southeast Asia and Europe.
Global export declines widened, except to Europe where air conditioner shipments rose 15.7% in H1 2025 due to extreme heat.

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Who’s Who

Counterpoint: Counterpoint is a research firm. Senior analyst Ivan Lam notes that U.S. tariffs compel producers with U.S.-based manufacturing to re-evaluate raw material sourcing, potentially raising costs. For those manufacturing outside the U.S., tariffs are a significant burden.

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What Happened When

August 2023：: The run of expansion in China’s home-appliance exports began.

First half of 2024：: China’s home-appliance exports reached $56.41 billion, with a growth rate of 12.1%.

First quarter of 2025：: China’s home-appliance exports grew by 13.6% year-on-year.

Early 2025：: U.S. retailers front-loaded appliance purchases to hedge against tariff risks.

April 2025：: Chinese appliance exports to the U.S. began falling due to tariffs.

May 2025：: Export growth to Southeast Asia turned negative.

May 2025：: China’s global white-goods exports fell 2.2% by value, the first monthly decline since March 2024.

Second quarter of 2025：: China’s home-appliance exports fell by 2.2% year-on-year.

First half of 2025：: China’s home-appliance exports totaled $59.29 billion, up 5.1% from the same period a year earlier.

First half of 2025：: China exported 8.61 million air conditioners to the European Union and Britain, totaling $1.52 billion (a 15.7% year-on-year increase).

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