Americans flock to Chinese e-commerce apps DHgate, Taobao amid Trump tariffs

President Trump’s tariffs have prompted American online shoppers to ditch fast-fashion upstarts Temu and Shein in favor of two other Chinese e-commerce platforms — DHgate and Taobao — both of which have climbed into the top 5 most downloaded programs on Apple’s App Store.Viral videos on TikTok feature Chinese manufacturers urging American consumers to use DHgate and Taobao to purchase knockoffs of high-end luxury brands at a fraction of the cost.As of Friday, DHgate ranked as the No 2 free iPhone app in the US, with Taobao swiftly entering the Top 5 for the first time.The recent surge in downloads of DHgate and Taobao reveals an unexpected shift in American consumer behavior — spurred largely by increased tariffs imposed by Trump on US imports from China.Temu and Shein, two major Chinese-founded e-commerce platforms that have become increasingly popular among American consumers in recent years, recently announced price increases starting next week.The move stems from the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate the “de minimis” exemption, which previously allowed imports valued under $800 to enter the country duty-free.This exemption has been heavily utilized by companies like Shein and Temu to ship low-cost goods directly to American consumers without incurring tariffs.Effective May 2, these shipments will be subject to tariffs, starting at 120% or a flat fee of $100 per package, increasing to $200 by June 1.Those appearing in the viral TikTok videos claim that fashion products such as clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories are initially manufactured in China.They are subsequently shipped abroad, primarily to Europe, where luxury labels are added and products repackaged before being sold at significantly marked-up prices.TikTok influencers and creators urged American consumers toward apps like DHgate and Taobao, where items can be purchased directly from Chinese manufacturers.By bypassing traditional branding channels, shoppers anticipate sav...