China’s shoemakers seem more sanguine than its politicians
A trade war will cause a lot of damage, but many have weathered storms before

Some 1,200 miles south of where government officials in Beijing have been breathing retaliatory fire at American tariffs lies the coastal province of Fujian. This is where the rubber of a million running shoes will hit the road as the tariffs take effect.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “A load of old cobblers”

From the April 12th 2025 edition
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