US President Donald Trump’s potential visit to Beijing has been dismissed as “none of her business” by a Chinese sales executive, as exporters continue to emphasise resilience amid ongoing trade tensions with Washington.
The remarks were made by Chinese salesperson Yu Yangxian, whose company manufactures electric lockers and vending machines, many of which are exported to the United States.
“As long as the United States continues to trade, it will have to do business with us,” she said, adding that cost increases are partially passed on to US consumers.
Yu said Chinese supply chains and product quality remain strong, noting that her firm weathered a volatile 2025 period when tariffs briefly surged to triple-digit levels, yet still retained most of its US customer base.
She added that the company has since expanded into new markets globally, reflecting a broader trend among Chinese exporters adapting to shifting trade conditions.
“Whether he comes to negotiate or to declare a fight, it does not pose a major threat to us,” she said, referring to Mr Trump.
Yu explained that her company is also expanding into Europe, South America, Southeast Asia and Africa to reduce reliance on the US market, particularly amid tariff pressures and rising raw material costs linked to global geopolitical tensions.
Her strategy mirrors China’s broader industrial policy of strengthening self-sufficiency and building integrated domestic supply chains across multiple sectors.
China’s export performance remained strong in 2025, with shipments to the US declining but rising significantly to other regions, including Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the European Union.
The country ended the year with a record trade surplus, driven by competitive pricing and diversified export markets.
Analysts said Beijing continues to leverage its dominance in critical supply chains, including rare earth materials, which are essential for semiconductor and defence industries.
Experts noted that this dependency gives China strategic leverage in global trade negotiations, even as tensions with Washington persist.
Meanwhile, some manufacturers said pressure to relocate production outside China has eased, as companies reassess costly diversification strategies.
Industry players added that while supply chain diversification remains a long-term goal, immediate relocation plans have slowed due to shifting tariff policies.
Business leaders also said recent geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East, have added further complexity to global supply chains.
Despite ongoing uncertainty, companies are now taking a more cautious approach, with many describing the current trade environment as less reactive than in previous years.
However, executives and trade groups warned that any tariff truce between the US and China is likely to be temporary, stressing the need for long-term policy stability to support global business planning
