As the 104% tariffs Trump has levied on Chinese goods and the 84% retaliatory tariff from China hit, it has become the hottest topic on social media – both global and Chinese. From “The Foreign Ministry responds to the 104% US tariff” to “Who do the tariffs hurt?”, many topics skyrocketed to the top of the Hot Search list on Weibo. Among the topics that went viral in the spiral was America’s recent egg shortage.
- # 美国一边打贸易战一边求鸡蛋 The US fights a trade war while begging for eggs: 170 million views on Weibo, ranking number 1 on the Hot Search list
- #美国一边打贸易战一边求鸡蛋 The US fights a trade war while begging for eggs: 5.70 million views on Rednote, ranking number 7 on the Hot Topic list
Most netizens appear to mock the US plight over the egg shortage, support Europe’s rejection of providing eggs, and question the illogical thinking behind the Trump administration.
Another notable topic that made it to the Hot Search list is “tax refunds for foreign visitors”. These are refunds on the value-added tax (VAT) when you shop in China while visiting. Originally set as a means to boost travel, this scheme is now viewed by many Chinese social media users as a loophole for US consumers to come and buy “at the source”, leveraging the tax refund to offset the Trump tariffs on China-made goods.
- #离境退税 Tax refund at the border: 22.25 million views on Weibo, ranking number 2 on the Hot Search list
It should be noted that on Chinese social media, particularly Weibo, political topics of this nature tend to be heavily regulated or censored. The topics under “104% tariff” have already been filtered, with only official or state-owned outlets able to post updates. However, other than the main talking points shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, anyone can view real comments from users in real time – offering a more comprehensive glimpse into Chinese netizens’ reactions.
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