Industri Mainan Tiongkok Terdampak Perang Tarif

Summary

The video follows the journey of the Cheng family, who founded the toy manufacturing company Huntar in China over three decades ago. With the U.S.-China trade war escalating in 2025, they face a dire crisis as new tariffs on Chinese imports threaten their business. Struggling with canceled orders and workforce reductions, they explore options like moving production to Vietnam, but uncertainty looms. Despite being a symbol of Chinese manufacturing, Huntar is also an American family business, employing people in California. The video highlights the challenges of globalization, trade wars, and the American Dream amidst a changing economic landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 A Chinese immigrant named Kuan Es Cheng founded a toy factory in Southern China around 35 years ago, taking advantage of low labor costs and China's economic growth after opening up to the world in 1978.
• 😀 Over the next few decades, Cheng and his sons built the family business, Huntar, exporting toys to major US retailers like Walmart and Target.
• 😀 In 2025, the Cheng family made investments into solar panels and upgrading equipment, starting the year positively.
• 😀 However, in April 2025, the business faced a crisis due to President Trump's new tariffs on Chinese imports, which soared to 145% on April 9.
• 😀 The Cheng family had to react quickly as the trade war between the US and China caused orders to vanish overnight.
• 😀 David and Jassen Cheng, the sons, fought to save the family business, which had been operating for decades. They cut production and laid off half of their 400 workers from China.
• 😀 Despite the drastic measures, David Cheng expressed concern that these efforts may not be enough to save the company, as additional layoffs were possible.
• 😀 The crisis faced by Huntar reflected the challenges many factories in China were experiencing due to the US-China trade war.
• 😀 In China, remaining workers at Huntar were fearful of further layoffs, feeling the impact of the tariffs that caused widespread uncertainty.
• 😀 Huntar's origins were based on the American dream of Kuan Es Cheng, who fled communist China and built a life selling goods in the US. His story and the company’s success are now threatened by global economic turmoil.
• 😀 In California, CEO Jessen Cheng assessed the company's situation, with canceled orders worth $750,000, and considered options like moving production to Vietnam to avoid tariffs, though this was uncertain due to global economic instability.
• 😀 Despite being seen as a Chinese factory taking jobs from Americans, Huntar's situation was unique, as it is also a family-owned American business employing 15 people in California who would lose their jobs if the company collapses.

Q & A

What was the initial reason for the success of Huntar's business?

Huntar's success was driven by low labor costs and the rapid economic growth of China after it opened up to the world in 1978. The family capitalized on these conditions by establishing a toy manufacturing business in southern China.

What significant change occurred in April 2025 that affected Huntar's business?

In April 2025, the United States imposed new tariffs on Chinese imports, which increased to 145%. This greatly impacted Huntar's business, as many of their orders were canceled, forcing them to reduce production and lay off workers.

How did the Cheng family respond to the tariffs and the sudden loss of orders?

The Cheng family quickly took action by cutting production significantly, laying off 50% of their 400 employees, and halting all business development, including product and facility upgrades.

What were the immediate consequences for Huntar's employees in China?

Many workers at the Huntar factory in China were faced with the fear of further layoffs, as the impact of the tariff increases and trade war with the U.S. created significant uncertainty for their jobs.

How does Huntar’s situation reflect broader challenges in China’s manufacturing sector?

Huntar’s struggles are indicative of the wider challenges faced by Chinese factories, as many businesses are dealing with canceled orders and the rising costs of trade due to the ongoing trade war and tariffs.

What personal history did Kuan Es, the patriarch of the Cheng family, have before starting the business?

Kuan Es, the father of David and Jessen Cheng, fled communist China by swimming across the Shen River to Hong Kong. He settled in the Bay Area, California, where he worked as a janitor and sold items at flea markets before eventually founding the toy manufacturing business.

What financial burden is Huntar currently facing due to the trade war?

Huntar is currently dealing with canceled orders worth approximately 750,000 dollars, equivalent to 1.3 trillion Indonesian Rupiah, which has piled up in their warehouses, creating significant financial strain.

What alternative did Jessen Cheng consider to mitigate the impact of tariffs on their business?

Jessen Cheng considered moving the production to other countries, such as Vietnam, in order to avoid the high tariffs. However, the uncertainty surrounding global trade conditions made it difficult to find a clear solution.

What concerns did Jessen Cheng express regarding the future of their business?

Jessen Cheng expressed deep uncertainty about the future, mentioning that the constant changes in tariffs and global trade conditions made it difficult to predict what would happen next, especially with the potential of further layoffs.

How does Huntar’s story challenge the perception of Chinese factories taking American jobs?

While many view Chinese factories as a threat to American jobs, Huntar’s story highlights that the company is actually a family-owned American business that employs workers in California. The tariffs and trade tensions could negatively affect both their Chinese and American employees.