The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of exporters in attendance exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event.
Running from April 15 to May 5 in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, this edition of the fair has attracted about 31,000 participating firms, up by nearly 900 compared with the previous fair.
Amid rising trade tensions ignited by U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called "reciprocal tariffs", some Chinese exporters say they are shifting their focus to other markets in the world.
"U.S. tariffs have now been raised to 125 percent. When you add the original 25 percent tariff, our products are facing a 150 percent tariff. So, we're taking a wait-and-see approach in the North American market, while shifting more of our market and product development focus toward Southeast Asia and the ASEAN region," said Sam Shang, sales director of Tianmei.
"The tariffs have sent us a clear message -- balanced development is crucial. That's why this year, we're planning to shift more of our focus toward the European market," said Chen Mingjun, general manager of Powtek, an electric appliance company.
This edition of the fair is divided into three phases. The first will focus on advanced manufacturing, the second on quality home furnishings, and the third on products that promote a better quality of life.
The event will involve 172 product zones, including, for the first time, a special zone for service robots focused on showcasing the latest achievements of China's AI development efforts.
"We've added a service robots zone to the first phase of the Canton Fair because of the current industrial trend that means there are so many robot exhibits. On the other hand, we hope to help these robots go overseas," said Chen Siqi, a staff member at the fair.
The fair has attracted more than 200,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions. Some said they were interested in working with Chinese companies to help them mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs.
"Tariffs might be a good opportunity for us to produce those items in Türkiye together with some Chinese manufacturers, who will be affected negatively. We can turn this to an advantage for both parties," said Suphi Yarici, a Turkish buyer.
Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China and has been hailed as a barometer of China's foreign trade.
Despite the weak momentum of global economic growth, intensified trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, China's foreign trade has maintained stable growth.
According to the General Administration of Customs, China's total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 1.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. China's exports rose 6.9 percent to 6.13 trillion yuan (about 834.2 billion U.S. dollars) during this period, while imports fell 6 percent to 4.17 trillion yuan (about 567.5 billion U.S. dollars).
137th Canton Fair opens with record number of exporters in attendance amid rising trade tensions
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
