Made in China

A recent report reveals the significant dependence of U.S. consumers on Chinese-made goods. Highlighting items like baby strollers, artificial plants, and umbrellas, the study underscores China’s dominance in various consumer markets. An experiment demonstrated consumers’ preference for cheaper, Chinese-made products, even when an American-made alternative was available at a higher price. The article suggests a full transition away from Chinese imports is complex.

Afina CEO Ramon Van Meer’s experiment tested consumer willingness to pay premiums for U.S.-made goods by offering identical showerheads at $239 (“Made in USA”) and $129 (“Made in China”). Among 25,000 online visitors, all 584 purchases chose the cheaper Chinese version, revealing a disconnect between stated patriotic preferences and actual price-driven decisions. Van Meer emphasized that reshoring requires rebuilding entire supply chains, not just factories, and noted the critical gap between social media rhetoric favoring domestic products and real purchasing behavior—posing challenges for U.S. reindustrialization efforts.