US President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods is creating an unexpected paradox: It is fueling a panic buying wave from US companies, benefiting Chinese manufacturers themselves.
MyActuator, a manufacturer of smart transmission modules for human-shaped robots based in Zhuzhou, has become a typical example. The company received more than 1,000 new orders last week alone, bringing monthly sales to nearly 30%.
A source from the company said that US customers, including big names like OpenAI, have made it clear that these are "urgent orders" to avoid the possibility of being subject to high tariffs.
"We have to transport everything before the new tax policy takes effect, so our factories in To Chau, Dong Huan and Changzhou are working overtime every day," the source said.
This ironic incident caused MyActuator's insider company to joking that President Trump was their "Best salesman".
For American customers, MyActuator's joined modules are considered irreplaceable due to their high quality and competitive prices. Therefore, Mr. Trump's policies have unintentionally boosted the company's sales rather than caused difficulties.
This incident also highlights an important aspect and is considered a loophole in the US-China technology confrontation: China's almost absolute advantage in the supply chain.
The human-shaped robot market is forecast to reach 5,000 billion USD by 2050 and has become an important "front" . While the US leads in AI and design, China has the advantage of producing high-quality components at cost.
According to experts, China currently has nearly 100 companies producing modules for human-shaped robots, accounting for more than 70% of the global market. This explains why even top US technology companies like OpenAI still rely on Chinese suppliers like MyActuator, despite political tensions.
