The Trump trade war has gone viral on TikTok, pushing a Chinese e-commerce app, DHgate, to the top of the U.S. App Store.
After Trump increased U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports by 145%, numerous Chinese suppliers and manufacturers began making TikTok videos explaining to consumers how the global luxury goods market actually works. The clothing, handbags, and other accessories that many people assumed were made in Europe originate from factories in China, the videos explain.
As a result of the trend, the Chinese wholesale marketplace app DHgate surged to become the No. 3 top free iPhone app in the U.S. App Store as of Monday morning.
For comparison, the app was ranked No. 352 in the top non-game free iPhone apps category in the U.S. as of Friday, April 11, before jumping to No. 6 on Sunday and No. 3 on Monday, according to data from app intelligence provider Appfigures. On Monday, DHgate also climbed to No. 3 on the Top Overall chart for free iPhone apps, including games.
The firm tells TechCrunch that on Saturday, April 12, the DHgate app was downloaded 35,400 times across the App Store and Google Play, a 56% increase from its 30-day average. The U.S. accounted for 17,300 of those installs, a jump of 98% over the 30-day average.
On Sunday, April 13, those installs increased to 117,500 on iOS, up 732% from the 30-day average. The U.S. accounted for 65,100 of those downloads, up 940%. (Android download data for Sunday isn’t available yet.)
Image Credits:Appfigures” loading=”eager” height=”302″ width=”680″ class=”yf-g633g8 loader”/>DHgate is a cross-border e-commerce company connecting both businesses and consumers to suppliers and manufacturers in China and other markets. Today, it offers an inventory of over 30 million products across categories like electronics, home and toys, shoes and apparel, jewelry, health and beauty, and more, its website states.
The demand for the app grew out of the TikTok viral trend where Chinese manufacturers began revealing their secrets to the American public. Following this trend, other online creators began telling their viewers that the DHgate app is a source for buying luxury goods before a brand has added its label to the product.
In reality, it can be difficult for consumers to tell which factories are the originals contracted by the luxury brands and which are just making copies, also known as dupes. However, online communities like r/DHgate on Reddit can sometimes offer help on that front.
DJ Kamal Mustafa
I’m DJ Kamal Mustafa, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of EMEA Tribune, a digital news platform that focuses on critical stories from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan. With a deep passion for investigative journalism, I’ve built a reputation for delivering exclusive, thought-provoking reports that highlight the region’s most pressing issues.
I’ve been a journalist for over 10 years, and I’m currently associated with EMEA Tribune, ARY News, Daily Times, Samaa TV, Minute Mirror, and many other media outlets. Throughout my career, I’ve remained committed to uncovering the truth and providing valuable insights that inform and engage the public.
