There are no clients from Germany, France or the US, Chinese export and export exporters told the Epoch Times.
Exporters told the Epoch Times that China’s biggest fair was empty than it had before. Pessimism has spread across many industries after the US imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods due to the Chinese administration’s unfair trade practices.
Also known as China’s Export and Export Fair, the Canton Fair is China’s oldest, largest and most representative trade fair. It has been held every spring and autumn seasons in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, southern China since the spring of 1957.
This spring marks the 137th fair at Canton Fair.
China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), said this season’s Canton Fair had around 31,000 exhibitors, including more than 30,000 exhibitors at the export fair for the first time, attracting more than 200,000 foreign buyers before registering. However, Chinese exporters attending the fair told the Epoch Times that they had fewer clients and contracts this year and were worried about the impact of tariffs.
The fair will run in three phases, from April 15th to May 5th.
During the first phase, which took place until April 19th, exhibitors exhibited products in the fields of home appliances and information products, household appliances, spare parts, lighting equipment, electronics, electrical appliances, hardware and tools.
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Exhibitors at the lighting equipment factory in Zhongshan city, Guangdong Province, did not name it due to safety concerns, but said “there are no clients from Germany, France or the US,” but “more people in Ukraine and Russia.”
He said there are few on the first morning. He added that the fair brought them quality buyers the previous year, but his company this year doesn’t expect to sign as many orders as before.
His factory has not yet been affected by tariffs, but exhibitors expect it to be affected in the end as “a large portion of this market will be resold to the US (through other countries).”
Phase 2 of Canton Fair will be held from April 23rd to April 27th, with exhibitors selling common ceramics, household items, furniture and other products.
A furniture businessman in Fujian, southeastern China, told the Epoch Times that the economy has been bad in recent years and “last month’s Furniture Fair at Shenzhen is already very dark.” Their furniture business serves European and US markets, and now their foreign trade businesses are being he said.
He said he was preparing to “sit on the bench for five days (idol)” at the next stage of the Canton Fair.
Buyer’s Market
While Trump’s tariffs in other parts of the world are far lower for now, they could curb global demand in the coming months. There is also a demand for Chinese products from other countries due to US tariffs on Chinese goods, including those resold to the US through other countries.
A US-based Chinese affairs analyst told the Epoch Times on April 15 that China is indirectly exporting other countries to the United States.
“Now, Trump’s mutual tariffs are actually forcing the nations to take a stance. Are they standing with the US or the CCP?” he said.
“If CCPs use them as third parties to resell Chinese products to the US, the US will also impose high tariffs on these countries. Therefore, CCP’s indirect exports to the US will also be hit hard.”
A staff member at the crane factory in Leaon, northeastern China, who is participating in the fair, told the Epoch Times on April 15th.
A Chinese-made car that includes Volvo and other brands located on April 16, 2025, located in the port of Nanjing in East Jiangsu Province, China. AFP via Getty Images
US-based economist Davy J. Wong said Canton Fair is always a platform to showcase Chinese exports. As the US market is currently frozen, “it shows that China’s voice in export transactions is frozen.”
He said, “In the past, export prices were determined by China, the global factory. Now it is a market for buyers. Europe and the US are the largest buyers and have the ultimate decision on global exports.”
Wong said the decline of Canton Fair symbolizes the pessimistic expectations for the Chinese economy and represents the industry’s lack of confidence in the future economy.
Wang pointed out that China has dumped goods at low prices in recent years, causing resentment from countries around the world. “Where will China’s huge amounts of goods be sold after losing the US market? All countries are very nervous and there is not much space (for export) at Canton Fair.”
In April, investment bank UBS reduced its forecast for China’s economic growth this year to 3.4% from the previous 4%. UBS expects China’s exports to the US to be down two-thirds in the coming quarter, with China’s total exports likely falling 10% this year.
Luo Ya and Reuters contributed to this report.
