Trump-supporting timber business owner struggles as tariffs disrupt trade

An American timber business owner who supports Donald Trump is grappling with unsold inventory and shrinking cash flow due to the ongoing trade war, as Washington's punitive tariffs weigh heavily on his operations and push him to seek alternatives to the Chinese market.

Brandon Arbogast, the owner of Valley Log Sales in Timberville, Virginia, has spent decades in the lumber industry, exporting premium Virginia timber, primarily to China.

In this market, a high-quality timber log can fetch up to 4,000 U.S. dollars. However, the Trump administration's tariffs have upended his trade, leaving him with inventory that would normally be sold overseas.

Although Arbogast is well-versed in the cyclical nature of the lumber business, he now finds himself confronting an unprecedented challenge.

"It's not going too good. We are in a trade war. China takes in about 60 percent of American hardwood, lumber, and logs, and they are such a big market that it makes the rest of the world play fair. It makes it very competitive. And with them not buying, it turns out there are a lot of logs on the market now. Since they are not buying, and people are trying to get the logs as cheap as they can, the rich get richer, and the middle class, like me, suffer," Arbogast said.

Sitting on 120,000 to 130,000 U.S. dollars' worth of unsold wood, Arbogast is contemplating selling some of his land to maintain cash flow.

"I can still hold for a while. I've been okay in this business; the business has been kind to me. I've worked very hard to get where I am. I can hold for a little while. I can't hold forever. I'm just hoping soon something happens with the trade deal, and you know it works out for both sides," Arbogast added.

Despite the difficulties, Arbogast remains hopeful. He is not angry with President Trump. As a self-identified Trump supporter, Arbogast is willing to endure the hardship, hoping that a resolution to the trade dispute will eventually bring relief.

For now, his premium walnut logs, which are typically transformed into furniture, flooring, and kitchen cabinets, remain idle in the field, surrounded by growing crops.

The unsold walnut wood has become a growing concern for Arbogast's business. Like many small business owners around the world, he and countless others are waiting for progress.

Eyes are now on Geneva, where high-level talks on China-U.S. economic and trade affairs commenced on Saturday.

China's lead representative, He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier, attended the meeting alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Although Geneva may seem like a million miles away, small business owners like Arbogast are eager for signs of progress. While they can hold out for now, they are hoping to return to normal operations -- shipping logs worldwide and ensuring jobs for workers who transform timber into essential products.

Trump-supporting timber business owner struggles as tariffs disrupt trade

Trump-supporting timber business owner struggles as tariffs disrupt trade

Trump-supporting timber business owner struggles as tariffs disrupt trade

Trump-supporting timber business owner struggles as tariffs disrupt trade

Trump-supporting timber business owner struggles as tariffs disrupt trade

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media