Chinese tech firms up their game as reciprocal tariffs hit U.S. products
HONG KONG — Marcus Wu’s home racing simulator setup needs one more thing: a manual gearshift.
HONG KONG — Marcus Wu’s home racing simulator setup needs one more thing: a manual gearshift. A decade ago, one from a Western brand would have been a no-brainer for gamers like the 12-year-old Hongkonger.
As President Donald Trump’s trade war with Beijing escalates, the fact that Wu opted for a gearshift from Chinese manufacturer Moza illustrates how far Chinese manufacturers have come in competing with their Western counterparts on affordability and quality.
The deepening economic conflict between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies, has the potential to wreak havoc on a complex web of globalized commerce. And Trump’s attempts to claw back manufacturing to American shores could have unintended consequences, including giving Chinese technology manufacturers an edge at a time when American products are already becoming expensive.
Marcus Wu, 12, browses racing simulator hardware in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Mithil Aggarwal / NBC NewsWu and his father-cum-financier, Mingfai, have already made their choice, opting for a Chinese alternative over American brands such as the Oregon-based Thrustmaster. “If only the price was good but the quality wasn’t, then I wouldn’t have bought this,” the elder Wu said. “But this is cheaper and works great.”
The duo were browsing Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po computer market — a sprawling hub of small tech stores selling everything from computer parts to gaming equipment for casual gamers and enthusiasts alike.
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