Halloween Decor Exporters in China Face Challenges Despite US Tariff Truce

A temporary tariff truce between the U.S. and China has sparked cautious optimism among Chinese manufacturers, but for Halloween decoration exporters in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, the damage may already be done. U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, which peaked at 145% earlier this year, forced many American buyers to halt or delay orders—impacting businesses like Xubo, which depends on the U.S. for 20% of its sales.

Xubo’s 25-year-old manager, Lou Xiaobo, says the delay severely disrupted their seasonal production. “We lost two months of production, and that means a revenue loss of 300,000 yuan. Even with the tariff cut to 30%, we can't catch up,” he said. Custom orders are especially hard to fulfill in time for the October 31 deadline.

While the truce provides some breathing room, its 90-day limit and ongoing uncertainty under the Trump administration leave many manufacturers uneasy. Lou emphasizes that the lowered tariffs don't undo the production setbacks caused earlier this year.

China remains the dominant global supplier of festive decorations for holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and the Fourth of July. However, Robert Berman of the Halloween and Costume Association warns that the tariff hikes came at the worst time. “Most products were already in production or en route. It’s too late to switch suppliers for 2025,” he explained.

Another exporter, surnamed Ma, echoed these concerns. While she hopes customers will now resume orders, she anticipates a drop in overall export volume this year. “If they order now, we might just make the shipping window—but made-to-order items will be difficult,” she said. “We just hope the trade war doesn’t reignite.”

Despite the tariff truce, Chinese Halloween exporters remain wary, as uncertainty continues to haunt the holiday supply chain.