The Great Pre-Chinarmageddon Sale: Why Now Is The Time To Buy Chinese Products Before Trump's Tariffs Hit, by Chris Adams
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Some facts are starting to shape our view of what the future is going to look like, and it is becoming apparent that our ideals may soon be reaching into our wallets. The fact that Donald Trump won his second term as President starting January 20, 2025 and the fact that Xi Jinping has continued to increase the hostility of the Chinese Communist Party, and all of China, towards the United States is leading us to a showdown. The first wave of this showdown will likely take place in the form of a tariff war.
Trump has already announced plans for massive new tariffs on Chinese imports, but nobody seems to know exactly what these numbers will look like. We have heard numbers ranging from 10% to as high as 100%. This means that whatever the price of a particular product sourced from China may be today, it is effectively “on sale” compared to the price it will be after January 20, 2025.
Welcome to the "Pre-Chinarmageddon Sale" - your last chance to purchase Chinese-made products before prices skyrocket, and also before whatever ill conceived response Xi Jinping comes up with.
Why This Matters Right Now
Trump has made no secret of his intentions regarding China. During his campaign speeches and interviews, he repeatedly promised to impose "universal baseline tariffs" on most foreign imports, with China being his primary target. These proposed tariffs aren't just political rhetoric – they represent a fundamental shift in U.S. trade policy that could significantly impact consumer prices.
Let's break down what this means for YOU:
Current Situation:
- Most Chinese goods enter the U.S. with relatively modest tariffs
- Consumers enjoy competitive prices on everything from electronics to furniture
What may happen::
- Basic tariffs starting at 10% on virtually all Chinese imports
- Potential for up to 100% tariffs on certain categories
- Immediate price increases across thousands of consumer products
The Shopping Window Is Closing
We are currently in a pre-tariff grace period. It remains to be seen if prices will remain static until the day of the first tariff being levied, if they will increase in anticipation and perhaps a little opportunism on the part of vendors, or some combination. In niches with low turnover, it may take weeks or even months for the prices to increase while others will snap your head around how quickly they reach into your wallet. The only thing that is certain is that once the tariffs are certain, and they pretty much are, there is no way to gain from sleeping until prices increase.
What Should You Consider Buying Now?
- Electronics and Technology - this category has classically been among the hardest hit.
- Smartphones and tablets
- Computer components
- Smart home devices
- Gaming consoles and accessories
- Solar panels and renewable energy equipment
- Home and Garden
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Tools and hardware
- Light fixtures
- Garden equipment
- Clothing and Textiles - also a likely target as there are many initiatives inside America to reinvigorate the domestic textile industry
- Winter clothing for next season
- Bedding and linens
- Shoes and accessories
- Athletic wear
- Construction Materials
- Flooring
- Tiles
- Hardware
- Lighting fixtures
- Building materials
Understanding the Price Impact
Let's put this into perspective with some examples:
Current vs. Potential Prices (With 50% Tariff):
- $1,000 Chinese-made 4K TV → $1,500
- $500 Gaming Console → $750
- $200 Smartphone → $300
- $1,000 Furniture Set → $1,500
- $300 Power Tools Set → $450
These calculations are simplified but illustrate the potential impact. The actual price increases could be even higher when you factor in:
- Additional supply chain costs
- Retailer markup adjustments - if a retailer makes a 100% markup, then the $500 tariff on that $1,000 furniture set becomes a $1,000 markup and a $2,000 furniture set
- Reduced competition - when prices go up, there will be a sticker shock period where customers simply refuse to buy. In that window, businesses will fail
- Inflation - this should be self explanatory. Stuff costs more. Get it?
Why These Tariffs Matter
Trump's proposed tariffs aren't just about making Chinese goods more expensive – they're part of a broader strategy to:
- Reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese manufacturing
- Encourage domestic production
- Address trade imbalances
- Pressure China on various political and economic issues
A pack of cigarettes used to be 99 cents, and that was in California. The per unit cost to manufacture cigarettes has not increased 900%. What has made cigarettes cost what they do today is social engineering taxes. Sure, they fund various programs for states, but they are really intended to make paying for cigarettes so painful that smokers will eventually be forced to quit by economics.
Donald Trump aims to break you of your addiction to cheap Chinese products, and you are going to feel the pain until you do. Along the way he hopes to reinvigorate industries that are dead or near-dead within the United States. Long term, it all sounds pretty amazing. However, the immediate effect will be higher prices for consumers. Whoever runs against Trump's heir-apparent in four years will almost assuredly tout how they will take the pain away. Most voters are motivated more by how well they eat and how nice their car is than they are by anything like a long term economic plan or if their grandkids will live free. Trump’s heir will have an uphill battle ahead of them.
Strategic Shopping: Making the Most of Pre-Chinarmageddon
Here's how to approach your shopping strategy before the tariffs hit:
- Assess Your Long-term Needs
- Make a list of big-ticket items you'll need in the next 1-2 years
- Research which of the items on your list may fall into a high tariff category
- Consider items that typically have good resale value
- Research Product Origins
- Verify the products on your list are actually made in China (not all Asian products are)
- Check if alternative sources exist for similar products
- See if any of your items, especially those likely to be tariffed heavily, are “China Only”
- Compare Prices Carefully
- Document current prices for reference
- Calculate potential post-tariff costs
- Figure out if you are going to end up buying it anyhow, and it’s just going to cost more
- Focus on Quality Items
- Buy products that will last
- Avoid panic buying low-quality goods
- Prioritize items with good warranties from companies that have infrastructure inside the United States and therefore cannot just pull out when it gets tough
The Business Perspective
For small business owners and entrepreneurs, the implications are even more significant:
- Stock up on inventory now if you rely on Chinese-made products
- Consider diversifying suppliers to include non-Chinese options
- Plan for price adjustments in your business model
- Prepare communications to explain price increases to customers
Possible Timeline
This is the part where we normally give a rational plan that talks about tariffs being phased in and planning for the impact of changes that happen gradually. Thing is, love him or hate him, this is Donad Trump we are talking about here. Trump has made it clear that he intends to make high impact moves immediately, and he has a history that backs this up. His 2018 tariffs went into effect extremely quickly, and while there are those who claim he lacks the power to do such things, none of them have shown the capability to stop him. So the safe money is on “fast and hard.” The most important question is, then: what should you do?
Conclusion
The period between today and January 20th (January 10th if you’re ordering something that has to be shipped directly from China) represents a unique window of opportunity before prices on Chinese goods increase. While it's important not to panic or overspend, strategic purchasing of needed items could result in significant savings. Whether Trump's tariffs ultimately achieve their intended goals remains to be seen, but their impact on consumer prices is likely to be significant and long-lasting.