Chinese Beauty Exports Surge in US Despite Trade Tensions

China's exports of hair products to the United States rose 12.4% year-on-year to $1.3 billion in the first half of 2026, customs data shows, putting shipments on track to surpass 2025's full-year total of $2.3 billion. The surge in non-strategic beauty goods — wigs, extensions and press-on nails — comes as trade friction over Chinese cars and batteries dominates a presidential summit this week. Producers in Xuchang, the hub of China's wig industry, report US sales growth of 10% to 40%, driven by TikTok and Instagram. Artificial nail exports are also climbing. One Donghai factory owner said overseas sales rose to 70% of revenue in 2026 from 20% in late 2025, with the US accounting for a large share. Exporters say they are unfazed by potential new US tariffs, citing entrenched scale advantages and labor forces that are difficult to replicate elsewhere.