Steve Inskeep

So there's an umbrella store, nothing but umbrellas.

So there's an umbrella store, nothing but umbrellas.

Light bulbs, like a light bulb store, that's what they sell. Shop after shop after shop, and then we settled in at a display room for hardware. I've been going around the store just writing down things that are for sale. Spades, saws, staplers, caulk guns, garden shears, wire cutters, bolt cutters, garden hose nozzles.

Light bulbs, like a light bulb store, that's what they sell. Shop after shop after shop, and then we settled in at a display room for hardware. I've been going around the store just writing down things that are for sale. Spades, saws, staplers, caulk guns, garden shears, wire cutters, bolt cutters, garden hose nozzles.

Light bulbs, like a light bulb store, that's what they sell. Shop after shop after shop, and then we settled in at a display room for hardware. I've been going around the store just writing down things that are for sale. Spades, saws, staplers, caulk guns, garden shears, wire cutters, bolt cutters, garden hose nozzles.

that the Chinese suppliers of our goods are dealing with those tariffs in different ways. The hardware store seller who's selling screwdrivers, jackhammers, any number of things, says she thinks that her tools are in demand and that American consumers are just going to pay more. She's not changing her prices.

that the Chinese suppliers of our goods are dealing with those tariffs in different ways. The hardware store seller who's selling screwdrivers, jackhammers, any number of things, says she thinks that her tools are in demand and that American consumers are just going to pay more. She's not changing her prices.

that the Chinese suppliers of our goods are dealing with those tariffs in different ways. The hardware store seller who's selling screwdrivers, jackhammers, any number of things, says she thinks that her tools are in demand and that American consumers are just going to pay more. She's not changing her prices.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She says she's just going to improve the packaging and marketing a little bit. But with that said, we also heard some stories of people who have lost business or agreed to make some tradeoffs. OK, what do you mean by that? Well, for example, a seller of hairpins and claw clips told us she had an order from Target, and they said, would you pick up half the cost of the tariffs?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She says she's just going to improve the packaging and marketing a little bit. But with that said, we also heard some stories of people who have lost business or agreed to make some tradeoffs. OK, what do you mean by that? Well, for example, a seller of hairpins and claw clips told us she had an order from Target, and they said, would you pick up half the cost of the tariffs?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She says she's just going to improve the packaging and marketing a little bit. But with that said, we also heard some stories of people who have lost business or agreed to make some tradeoffs. OK, what do you mean by that? Well, for example, a seller of hairpins and claw clips told us she had an order from Target, and they said, would you pick up half the cost of the tariffs?

She tried to negotiate, and they delayed the order. She's losing the business. We also met a guy who sells thousands and thousands of toys made on 3D printers. He says one of his clients asked for half the tariffs to be paid by him. He said, sure, his business is expanding, and regardless, tariffs or not, he is raising his prices. So what's the bottom line here?

She tried to negotiate, and they delayed the order. She's losing the business. We also met a guy who sells thousands and thousands of toys made on 3D printers. He says one of his clients asked for half the tariffs to be paid by him. He said, sure, his business is expanding, and regardless, tariffs or not, he is raising his prices. So what's the bottom line here?

She tried to negotiate, and they delayed the order. She's losing the business. We also met a guy who sells thousands and thousands of toys made on 3D printers. He says one of his clients asked for half the tariffs to be paid by him. He said, sure, his business is expanding, and regardless, tariffs or not, he is raising his prices. So what's the bottom line here?

That there is a give and take, I guess. It seems like suppliers will, in fact, pay some of the tariffs, but American consumers will, too. And it's also clear to us from here that China has some options. They sell all over the world, including outside of the United States, in a rapidly changing marketplace.

That there is a give and take, I guess. It seems like suppliers will, in fact, pay some of the tariffs, but American consumers will, too. And it's also clear to us from here that China has some options. They sell all over the world, including outside of the United States, in a rapidly changing marketplace.

That there is a give and take, I guess. It seems like suppliers will, in fact, pay some of the tariffs, but American consumers will, too. And it's also clear to us from here that China has some options. They sell all over the world, including outside of the United States, in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Hi, this is Steve Inskeep. Our team is in China, inside a historic Chinese trading city where people come from all over the world to buy wholesale goods to import to their countries. And we're here to find out, among other things, how people are responding to tariffs on goods that go to the United States. Listen for that report on Up First from NPR News.

Hi, this is Steve Inskeep. Our team is in China, inside a historic Chinese trading city where people come from all over the world to buy wholesale goods to import to their countries. And we're here to find out, among other things, how people are responding to tariffs on goods that go to the United States. Listen for that report on Up First from NPR News.

Hi, this is Steve Inskeep. Our team is in China, inside a historic Chinese trading city where people come from all over the world to buy wholesale goods to import to their countries. And we're here to find out, among other things, how people are responding to tariffs on goods that go to the United States. Listen for that report on Up First from NPR News.