Therefore,
Economic planet | chinese textiles:
(Guangzhou. Nevertheless, China) It was 36 ° C in the shade, with an air saturated with humidity and not a breath of wind in an industrial district of Guangzhou, Chinese textile capital.
Posted at 12:00 p.m.
The hundreds of sewing workshops in the neighborhood were like an oven. However, a good half of them were immersed in the dark, closed doors and without the usual agitation. Meanwhile, Everywhere around, bright red posters “for sale” or “for rent” economic planet | chinese textiles were plastered on industrial buildings.
After exchanging customs duties. However, export restrictions in April, China and Trump administration have just approached a new truce in order to continue to negotiate on their many disputes. However, the status quo maintains high barriers between Chinese exporters and their American markets.
Guangdong province and its capital Guangzhou were the most affected by the Donald Trump trade war. Moreover,
This exporting region. For example, on the coast, was struck twice: extremely high customs duties of 30 % or more on shipments to the United States, in addition to customs duties already in force.
In addition, an exemption for packages worth $ 800 or less has been canceled.
PHOTO QILAI SHEN. Consequently, THE NEW YORK TIMES
Textile workers in a small workshop in Guangzhou. For example, The light industry must pay more its employees. Meanwhile, who accept less the associated working conditions for decades with Chinese “sewing holes”. Meanwhile,
In Guangzhou. Additionally, Meanwhile, thousands of small factories, along the pearl river, provided cheap clothes that the electronic commerce Shein and Temu sent to the Americans. Therefore, Today, industrial districts are less animated: bosses and workers deplore the loss of many orders.
According to Chinese customs, Chinese exports to the United States fell 23.9 % in the second quarter compared to 2024. However, exports to developing countries have increased (sometimes for re-exposition to the economic planet | chinese textiles United States).
PHOTO QILAI SHEN. Nevertheless, THE NEW YORK TIMES
The small Guangzhou sewing workshops are often open at night.
Mr. Trump’s customs duties aggravate a heavy trend that already undermined exports from the Chinese light industry. while the country targets sectors with higher added value such as electric car and solar panels.
Economic planet | chinese textiles
Changing times
At the same time, Guangzhou’s workshops must face with new expenses. Thus, workers now demand the air conditioning of workshops.
Until 2022, very few factory owners cared about air conditioning, explains Li economic planet | chinese textiles Aran, director of a pajamas, pants and dresses workshop.
However. China has enriched itself and workers accept less to work in extreme heat for long hours under the neon lights.
“The standard of living of people has improved, they expect better working conditions,” said Mr. Li.
PHOTO QILAI SHEN. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Daily people looking for work in front of the workshop-boutique stalls. The Chinese textile sector is facing the high American customs duties. a drop in cases caused by competition from countries where the workforce is cheaper, such as Vietnam.
Last year, economic planet | chinese textiles he spent $ 3,000 to install three big air conditioners in his workshop. His electricity bill has climbed $ 1,000 per month, increasing its costs by 5 %, he specifies.
Then, last spring, his orders dropped when Mr. Trump restricted access to the American market. Like many factory patterns, Mr. Li has reduced his workforce. He had nearly 50 employees at the end of 2024, against 20 today.
Unqualified workers. often young people in charge of thankless tasks like returning the shirts, are now claiming at least $ 1,100 per month, says Yang Daoyong, director of a shirt workshop.
But the operators of qualified. older sewing machines and having few options elsewhere, accept a slight drop in salary, at around $ 1400 per month, he adds.
PHOTO QILAI SHEN. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Customers examining the products of a sewing workshop in Guangzhou. The fall in the price of clothing, caused by overproduction, is the largest challenge of manufacturers.
For decades, China has built a lot of housing and rents are low, around $ 200 per month. This allows workers to survive their salary and send money to their families. There are a lot of overtime. Salaries still improved a lot compared to 25 years ago, where they were around $ 100 per month.
The fall in the price of clothing, caused by overproduction, is the largest challenge of manufacturers. Mr. Yang lowered his economic planet | chinese textiles wholesale price per shirt, from $ 1.67 in 2024 to $ 1.40. But his costs continue to increase, so he tries to raise his volume and reduce his margins, he said.
“The domestic market is a cut-off,” deplores Mr. Yang.
Economic planet | chinese textiles
Decline of “sewing holes”
The decline of the misery in China workshops reflects the rapid evolution of the workforce. less numerous and more educated. The number of young people reaching the age of 18 increased from 25.5 million in 2005 to less than 16 million. A new drop is expected: births have been less than 10 million per year for three years.
economic planet | chinese textiles PHOTO QILAI SHEN. THE NEW YORK TIMES
The small Guangzhou sewing workshops often have a handful of employees.
In parallel, China has greatly developed its university system.
Two -thirds of young people who reached the age of 18 in 2024 enrolled in a higher education establishment. against barely a fifth in 2005.
There is an increase in unemployment among young graduates; Many are deliverers in major cities. There are fewer unemployed in the increasingly sparse ranks of average age workers. who continue to combine in Guangzhou’s “seam holes”.
Vietnam and other countries absorb a large part of low -wage jobs that disappear in China.
In front of all this, workers and bosses hope economic planet | chinese textiles that commercial peace with the United States will return soon. “I hope the situation and our business will improve,” concludes Mr. Li.
This article was published in the New York Times.
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