Title: Tiger Balm Tariff Troubles: Impact of Trump’s China Trade War
Tiger balm, which is like a miracle cream for athletes and arthritis sufferers, is facing some serious problems due to Trump’s trade war with China. One measly distributor in the U.S. and a factory all the way in China is making it super vulnerable to the tariff drama. A tiny jar of this special balm usually costs around $8 in the U.S. But now, the big man himself, President Donald Trump, has jacked up tariffs on China by a whopping 145%. Well, that’s not good news for Tiger Balm lovers, is it?
Matt Chin, the head honcho at Prince of Peace Enterprises, the only distributor of Tiger Balm in the U.S., says they might have to pay $3 to $5 million in tariff costs this year. Yikes! That’s a lot of moolah. And guess what? Some of that cost might be passed on to us, the consumers. But hold your horses, they’re not gonna do it just yet. They’re playing it cool. “We’re taking it slow,” Chin said. “We don’t want to freak out our customers just yet.”
This whole trade war thing is really hitting home for American businesses that rely on popular products from other countries. Tiger Balm, with its soothing blend of camphor and menthol, has fans all over the world, from Jeremy Lin to Lady Gaga. But now, thanks to Trump’s tariffs, things are getting a bit rough. The U.S. and China are going back and forth with tariffs, and it’s the little guys like Prince of Peace who are getting squeezed.
Chin, who’s not only the boss at Prince of Peace but also runs the Oriental Food Association, a group of Asian food importers, is trying to make sense of all this tariff madness. He’s talking to trade reps and the Chinese consulate to figure out what the heck is going on. Shops in Chinatown are feeling the pinch too, but Chin is staying positive. “It’s tough, but we’ll get through it,” he said. Let’s hope so, buddy. Let’s hope so.
