Trump’s Move on China Brings Uncertainty

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Trump’s Move on China Brings Uncertainty
New Package: Image of cone invokes “proud legacy

The latest riff on trade from the White House has reignited tensions between the U.S. and China and will likely impact the Los Angeles region, the No.1 customs district by trade value in the country.

President Donald Trump’s administration last week announced plans to move ahead with $50 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese goods, a move intended as retribution for what the president claimed was U.S. intellectual property theft by Chinese actors.

The administration also announced broad investment restrictions and continued litigation at the World Trade Organization on China.

China ranked No.1 in terms of the value of international trade with the Los Angeles Customs District last year, according to U.S. Census bureau data. The L.A. district processed $431.4 billion of goods overall, up 8.35 percent from the year before. Trade with China in 2017 accounted for $172.62 billion, up 8.4 percent compared to 2016.

Stephen Cheung, president of World Trade Center Los Angeles, said that the news of the Trump administration’s latest move was something he had feared, since it could cover everything from raw materials to shipping rates.

“Once these measures are adopted it’s very hard to step back,” Cheung said. “I’m pretty sure China will react severely, we’ll see which U.S. industries and products have to adjust accordingly.”

The back-and-forth nature of the trade

spat between the two countries has threatened to harm consumers and businesses in both countries.

Relations calmed after both sides launched a dialogue over negotiations a few weeks ago – and then came flare

up last week.

“It’s the uncertainty that really affects

everything,” Cheung said. “These decisions are made so quickly and can be reversed as quickly, it really sets the stage for tumult. The question now is – how do you stop this from escalating further?”

The White House said one of the steps announced last week involves imposing 25 percent tariffs on imported goods from China. The list of targeted goods will be announced June 15.

The administration will also continue a WTO case launched in March that accuses China of violating intellectual property practices and undermining international trade.

Popcornopolis

Vernon-based Popcornopolis, a popcorn company known for its cone-shaped packaging, launched a new look last month in order to share space with other products on the snack aisle.

The company will still make popcorn in its cone-shaped bags, but the shift toward regular packaging will allow the product onto the snack aisle as well as its own product displays.

“The cone-shaped bags required its own point of purchase displays,” said Trina Kaye, spokeswoman for the company. “The new packaging allows the bags to be with all the other bags.”

The new packaging however, features images of the cones on the front of the package so consumers can recognize the brand.

“Our new packaging prominently features our cone’s proud legacy, reinforcing our brand,” Wally Arnold, owner of Popcornopolis, said in a statement. “This bold red line up stands tall amongst a sea of competitors and features some of our most favorite flavors.”

Flavors include buttered, caramel corn and white cheddar, among others, and retail between $1.99 and $5.99 depending on size.

The company was founded by Arnold and his wife, Kathy, in 2003. They opened their first retail store at Universal City Walk, and added more brick-and-mortar locations in California, the Midwest and New England over the years. The company’s popcorns can also be found in grocery stores, stadiums and movie theaters.

The company declined to provide revenue but said that its employee population varies quite a bit seasonally.

“We range from 150 to 250 employees across the country with the vast majority located at our Vernon, CA corporate offices and manufacturing facility,” Kaye said via email.

Tribali Foods

May, also dubbed “national burger month,” saw Pasadena-based Tribali Foods expand its clientele by launching its meat patties in185 Super Target stores nationwide.

The company makes “clean chicken and beef patties,” and two of its products – Mediterranean style beef and chipotle chicken flavors – can now be found in the freezer section of the Target Corp. stores.

Tribali’s clientele also includes grocers Whole Foods Market Inc., Bristol Farms, Erewhon and Amazon.com Inc., among others.

The company was founded in 2017 by Angela Bicos Mavridis, who serves as chief executive. Her family owns the burger restaurant Tops in Pasadena.


Staff reporter Shwanika Narayan can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8351.

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