Expert warns of U.S. tariffs disrupting cross-border e-commerce amid supply chain strains

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Expert warns of U.S. tariffs disrupting cross-border e-commerce amid supply chain strains

2025-04-27 15:53 Last Updated At：04-28 00:07

U.S. tariffs are disrupting cross-border e-commerce, squeezing businesses and stalling supply chains, warned a U.S. cross-border e-commerce practitioner on Friday.

Michael Michelini, a seasoned U.S. cross-border e-commerce practitioner, sources goods primarily from China and Thailand while offering consulting services to e-commerce enterprises. Reflecting on the tariff hikes imposed during Donald Trump's administration, Michelini expressed helplessness, emphasizing how these measures have stifled e-commerce businesses and stagnated the broader supply chain. "Unfortunately, some companies right now are just freezing shipments, I mean, nobody's buying from the factories. They are waiting because everybody's waiting, hoping the tariffs come down. Again, this hurts any importer, not really the factory, the supplier, it hurts the importer into the country it's going like the U.S. So, if you're U.S. business and you buy 100,000 dollars of products and you have to pay 150,000 dollars on top for tariffs, you are paying 250,000 dollars up front, hoping you make it back. So, some people have just frozen shipments and not even like paid for the duties that are stuck at port," he said.

A price comparison platform revealed that since April 9, when new U.S. tariffs took effect, prices for 930 Amazon products have surged by an average of 29 percent. These products span categories including clothing, household goods, electronics, and toys.

Meanwhile, other e-commerce platforms have announced rising operating costs due to "recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs," leading to price adjustments starting April 25. The soaring commodity prices are piling pressure on both consumers and businesses.

In response, Michelini remarked that it would be difficult for the U.S. government to achieve its goal of "manufacturing return" merely by imposing tariffs, as they have disrupted supply chains and hindered competitiveness.

"I saw the gutting of the American middle class and the gutting of the American manufacturing base in the 1990s. And I was just a kid and I had to hear from my uncles losing their jobs. Yes, it was really hard. And to just now flip a finger and bring it back, I'm not sure if I'm being clear," he said.

China ready to promote practical cooperation with Singapore: Chinese FM

China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance people-to-people exchanges with Singapore, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing.

Noting that over the past year, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries and joint efforts of both sides, the all-round high-quality and future-oriented partnership between China and Singapore has maintained a good momentum, Wang urged the two countries to continue to enhance strategic communication, increase mutual trust, jointly address the ever-emerging global challenges at present, and safeguard the overall situation of regional peace and stability.

Wang said that maintaining the security of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth flow of maritime navigation is in the common interests of the international community, and China is willing to continue to make efforts to this end.

Noting that Singapore is an important ASEAN member and will assume ASEAN's rotating presidency next year, Wang said China expects the Singaporean side to continue playing an active role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation.

Balakrishnan said Singapore highly values its relations with China, adheres to the one-China policy, and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence."

Singapore is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote practical cooperation in various fields, carry out key cooperation projects of both sides, and promote regional connectivity, he said.

Singapore is ready to promote greater progress in ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, support the Global Development Initiative, and uphold multilateralism and free trade, and is willing to work with China to make joint efforts in promoting world peace, development and prosperity, he added.