The popularity of a Chinese e-commerce app has surged in the U.S., driven by a spate of viral TikTok videos amid a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
DHgate, a Beijing-based online platform for cross-border commerce, became the second-most popular app on Apple’s App Store in the U.S. on Wednesday, followed by ChatGPT.
The surge in DHgate’s popularity was driven by viral TikTok videos posted by Chinese influencers purportedly explaining the inner workings of global supply chains.
DHgate allows global buyers to buy directly from Chinese factories used by popular Western brands, but without the branding and at a much lower price.