Summer in China Number 2:
Foshan – Locally Made, International Trade.
In this short video, “Summer in China” shares a glimpse of a day spent in the city of Foshan, Guangdong Province.
What can we all do to prevent a repeat of the frightening violence, xenophobia, and racism that exploded in the United States (US) against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and East Asian migrants after the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020?
Engage in international trade and global commerce – and learn in-depth about the distinct cultures in which you do business. The practical reality of global economic trade means that every individual, company, organization, or educational institution on social media is learning about regional cultures—even if they do not realize it. Using social media to market and sell products across borders is a form of cultural exchange magnified by satellite and electronic technology.
Whether Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, or the newly minted head of the Democratic Party – Vice President and Kamala Harris likes it or not – China is a global economic power. It is the second-largest economy in the world, trailing only the United States.
**********
In the inaugural “Summer in China” post last week, we focused heavily on Donald Trump’s and President Biden’s hardline trade policies toward China.
As Vice President Kamala Harris begins to “take the torch” of leadership from Biden and run her presidential campaign, we must wait to see her trade policies on China. However, we wonder if much of the motivation for the “tough-on-trade” policies from Mr. Trump and the Biden administration is the result of fear. Do American leaders and policymakers fear competition in business and trade from China?
Yet, we are not policy experts or policymakers. The beauty of Public Health Policy Reviews, an international collective of writers and content creators, is that we can objectively opine on the critical policy matter of trade.
The best way to share our opinions on trade and commerce is to approach the issues personally. Today’s featured video shows Summer spending an afternoon visiting some of her favorite businesses in the city of Foshan, Guangdong Province.
**********
What is striking about the video is that, aside from the language, signage, and distinct cuisine – it could be a video shared by a content creator from an American city.
It seems strange to think there was ever a time when social media was not integral to growing a small business. For companies not already on social media - or forced by customers and money to be online - there is often a question about social media’s value. However, social media’s role in helping businesses is significant. It facilitates customer communication, enabling the melding of social interactions on e-commerce sites.
For instance, the cocktail dress and Jellycat Teddy Bear that Summer is modeling in the photos from last week and today are available on a popular Chinese online shopping platform called Taobao. Unfortunately, Taobao does not yet have an English-language version of its website.