DHgate, Taobao, Shein Top US App Charts as 145% Tariffs, TikTok Videos Drive Surge
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Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform DHgate has rapidly climbed U.S. app store rankings, reaching as high as No. 2 on Apple's free app chart, driven by a surge in American downloads. The app, which previously ranked around 300th, saw downloads spike by 732% on April 13, with 117,500 iOS installs in a single day.
The surge in DHgate's popularity comes amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, including a 145% U.S. tariff on Chinese imports following President Donald Trump's April 2 executive order, a baseline 10% tariff on all countries, and the end of duty-free exemptions for small parcels. Beijing has responded with a 125% retaliatory tariff. Viral TikTok videos have played a key role, with Chinese manufacturers revealing that many luxury goods sold by European brands are produced in China, prompting U.S. consumers to seek similar products at lower prices directly from Chinese suppliers. Notable examples include a $38,000 Birkin bag reportedly made for $1,400, a Louis Vuitton dupe for $3.24, and Lululemon-style yoga pants for $13.
Other Chinese platforms such as Taobao and Shein have also seen increased downloads, with Taobao reaching No. 2 among shopping apps and Shein in the top three on the U.S. App Store. American shoppers are turning to these apps for cost-effective alternatives to handbags, apparel, and accessories, as concerns grow over potential price hikes on domestic platforms due to tariffs.
DHgate, founded in 2004 by Diane Wang, connects over 2.6 million suppliers to 77 million buyers in 225 countries, offering more than 30 million products. The company has responded to the trade environment by launching a 'Tariff Escort Plan' to support merchants with traffic, subsidies, and logistics. CTS International Logistics, a DHgate partner, saw its shares rise by 10% in Shanghai as the app's popularity surged.
The viral trend has highlighted the role of social media in shaping consumer behavior during the trade dispute. The crackdown on the de minimis loophole, which previously allowed small packages under $800 to enter the U.S. tax-free, is also impacting Chinese e-commerce platforms.
Formerly obscure Chinese wholesale app DHgate rockets to Number 2 on US app chart as Americans rush to order $200 wedding dresses and $13 sneakers. The people are rising up to support Chinese garment industries. You must have a heart of stone not to be moved by this. https://t.co/Bw1lh4u2Gj
As US-China trade tensions mount, Americans turn to Chinese platforms like DHgate, Taobao, and Shein for luxury lookalikes at rock-bottom prices.
https://t.co/vZU93RcMpk
#Chinese apps rapidly rising in popularity in the US. China's B2B e-commerce platform DHgate has entered the top 3 in the US app shop chart, and the number of downloads has surged 940% since last month. https://t.co/755oR8H9No
