Despite robust global demand for Chinese goods, domestic consumers are increasingly tightening their wallets. This shift highlights a deeper concern for officials in Beijing, as the nation’s economy leans more heavily on exports to sustain growth.

As tariffs take effect, China’s major port cities of Shanghai and Guangdong are experiencing a noticeable slowdown in traffic, according to reports from Chinese exporters and port officials. Factory production in some areas has virtually “ground to a halt,” signaling significant impacts on the nation’s economy.