Americans Turn to Chinese E-Commerce Apps Like DHgate and Taobao as Trump Tariffs Bite
President Trump’s tariffs have led American online shoppers to move away from fast-fashion newcomers Temu and Shein, opting instead for two other Chinese e-commerce sites: DHgate and Taobao. These alternatives have surged to become among the top five most downloaded apps on Apple’s App Store.
TikTok viral clips showcase Chinese producers encouraging U.S. buyers to acquire imitation versions of premium designer goods through platforms like DHgate and Taobao for only a portion of the original price.
By Friday, DHgate was listed as the second-free iPhone application in the U.S., while Taobao made its debut within the top five rankings for the initial time.
The latest increase in downloads of DHgate and Taobao highlights an unforeseen change in the shopping habits of American consumers, primarily driven by the heightened tariffs introduced by President Trump on goods imported from China.
Temu and Shein, two prominent e-commerce sites founded in China, have gained significant traction with U.S. customers over the past few years.
Recently declared hikes in prices set to take effect from next week.
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This action originates from the
The Trump administration’s choice to remove the “de minimis” exemption
, which formerly permitted goods worth less than $800 to be imported into the country without duties.
Many firms such as Shein and Temu have widely taken advantage of this exemption to deliver inexpensive products straight to American customers tariff-free.
Starting from May 2, these deliveries will incur tariffs, beginning at 120% or a fixed charge of $100 per parcel, with the rate escalating to $200 by June 1.
The individuals featured in the popular TikTok clips assert that fashion items like apparel, footwear, handbags, and accessories are originally produced in China.
These items are then exported mainly to Europe, where they receive luxury branding and new packaging prior to being sold at substantially increased prices.
TikTok influencers and content creators encouraged U.S. consumers to explore platforms such as DHgate and Taobao for purchasing products directly from Chinese manufacturers.
Shoppers expect to save money by avoiding conventional branding routes, seeking significant discounts over luxury retail prices, even with continuing tariff effects.
Increasing customer discontent with popular Chinese shopping platforms like Shein and Temu, which were forced to raise their prices, has intensified this change. As a result, shoppers quickly turned to options such as DHgate and Taobao for more attractive offers.
The significant increase can be seen in new data provided by the app analytics company Appfigures.
In April, Taobao saw around 185,000 downloads — this marks an impressive increase of 514%, up from the 30,000 downloads logged in the prior month.
The most significant growth happened during the recent weekend, where Taobao downloads surged almost six times from Friday to Saturday.
Taobao quickly rose through the ranks in the iOS App Store.
Starting off at position No. 461 in the general app charts on Saturday, it surged to No. 188 by Sunday, and climbed into the Top 5 by Thursday.
In the shopping category particularly, Taobao saw an immense leap from position 49 on Saturday to number 2 by Thursday, outpacing prominent retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Shein, and Temu.
Furthermore, another prominent Chinese e-commerce site, Alibaba.com, experienced substantial growth, ranking sixth among shopping applications in the U.S.
Appfigures has reported that this signifies Taobao’s first appearance in the U.S. App Store’s Top Overall charts, according to their data going back to January 2017.
This highlights the significant change in how consumers think and act within a fairly brief timeframe.
Even though these applications are currently popular, experts recommend that consumers be cautious. Buying from platforms like DHgate and Taobao comes with potential hazards, as the quality of products can vary significantly.
Users are highly advised to carefully go through the seller reviews and examine the photos uploaded by former purchasers before finalizing any deals.