This story highlights how geopolitical tensions—like the U.S.-China trade war—can ripple through local economies, affecting everyday workers and global supply chains. For shoppers, it might mean higher prices or fewer cheap fashion options, but for factory workers in Guangzhou, it’s a direct hit to their livelihoods.

Guangzhou is the humming heart of the global fast fashion industry, but uncertainty over US tariffs is putting pressure on orders and profitsLingering at a day market for labourers in Panyu, an urban village on the outskirts of Guangzhou, Ms Qiu looks dejected. She is looking for a local factory that will hire her for the day to sew clothes – cheap tops and dresses that will be churned out on to China’s e-commerce platforms, or bundled up for export to western shoppers. But she is not having much luck.“The whole industry is struggling, and now there is a high tariff on Chinese goods because of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/29/trump-tariffs-americans-pay-more">trade war</a>. Many foreign clients have decreased their orders from China,” she says, declining to give her first name. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/guangzhou-china-fast-fashion-trump-tariffs-trade-war">Continue reading...</a>

Guangzhou, known as the global hub for fast fashion, is feeling the pinch of the U.S.-China trade war. Uncertainty over tariffs has led to fewer orders and shrinking profits, leaving workers like Ms. Qiu struggling to find daily sewing jobs in local factories. The slowdown is hitting both domestic e-commerce and export markets, signaling tough times for the industry.