Shanghai Turns to Japan as Tariff Pressure Mounts

May 09, 2025 | News On Japan

OSAKA - As the U.S.-China trade tensions escalate, 151 companies from Shanghai gathered in Osaka for a business fair, with some shifting their focus to Japan by planning store openings and relocating their families.

Among them, one company president said he has already moved with his family to Osaka and plans to open a store in Nipponbashi. Others are exploring indirect export routes through Singapore to avoid U.S. tariffs.

The Shanghai Fair, which began today at Intex Osaka, brought together companies spanning sectors such as fashion, science, and technology. While the fair has been held nearly 20 times overseas, this year’s event marked the highest participation yet, according to organizers.

Amid the current trade conflict, the United States has imposed additional tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, while China has retaliated with tariffs of up to 125% on U.S. goods. A Shanghai-based earphone manufacturer that exports 80% of its products said it is reducing its export share to the U.S. from 50% to 30% in response to the trade tensions, and is now actively targeting the Japanese market.

"We’ve already begun selling globally, but previously we focused mainly on online sales. Now, we’ve set up a local company in Japan, and I’ve moved here with my family," said the company president. "I personally love Osaka. The people are cheerful, and my family is happy here—especially the kids. That’s why we chose Osaka for our first physical store."

A robotics component manufacturer also revealed plans to establish a base in Singapore to circumvent U.S. tariffs, indicating that export routes are being reconfigured across Asia. Still, the company expressed skepticism that the U.S. could entirely decouple its supply chains from China, noting the complexity of the global economy shaped by American policy shifts.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS

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