Douyin launches program to help exporters sell in China

Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, launched a new initiative on April 16, 2025 to assist local exporters in selling their products within China.

This program comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China.

Chinese exporters have encountered difficulties accessing the US market due to high tariffs imposed during the previous Trump administration.

These tariffs have affected the competitiveness of Chinese goods in the US.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Digital platforms emerge as trade war adaptation tools

Douyin’s domestic selling program is part of a broader trend of Chinese tech platforms stepping in to help exporters affected by U.S. tariffs.

Chinese exporters are leveraging multiple social platforms beyond Douyin, with sellers on Rednote livestreaming products originally meant for U.S. markets at discounts of up to 90% to domestic consumers 1.

The strategy represents a digital-first approach to mitigating trade barriers, with major Chinese e-commerce platforms actively supporting these efforts to redirect export inventory toward local consumption 2.

Some manufacturers are simultaneously pursuing a different digital strategy, using TikTok to sell directly to American consumers, bypassing traditional import channels and associated tariffs altogether 3.

This digital adaptation reflects the severity of current trade pressures, with U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports now reaching as high as 145% and predictions suggesting an 80% decline in Chinese shipments to the U.S. over the next two years 4.

2️⃣ China’s strategic shift toward domestic consumption accelerates

Douyin’s initiative aligns with China’s broader economic strategy to reduce export dependency through domestic consumption, a policy direction that has gained urgency as trade tensions intensify.

The potential impact on China’s economy is substantial, as approximately 10 to 20 million Chinese workers are involved in businesses that export to the U.S., according to recent estimates 4.

This redirection of export goods to domestic markets comes as Goldman Sachs has downgraded China’s GDP growth forecast to 4% due to trade tensions and slower global growth 4.