A Chinese exporter said it has seen a sudden surge in orders as US humanoid robot makers and artificial intelligence (AI) companies – including industry leader OpenAI – rush to secure critical components amid Washington’s threat to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on goods from the country.
Advertisement
MyActuator, a Suzhou-based manufacturer of intelligent drive modules for humanoid robots, has received more than 1,000 new orders in the past week alone, according to a person familiar with the company’s marketing operations who requested anonymity.
Clients explicitly told the firm that the orders were emergency purchases to avoid potential tariff hikes, the person added.
“We need to ship everything before the new tariff policy takes effect, so our factories in Suzhou, Dongguan and Changzhou are working overtime every day to catch up.
“Even when the previous tariff threats went up to triple digits, only a few clients increased their orders – and not by much. This time, it feels like Americans really believe Trump means it.”
Advertisement
US President Donald Trump has threatened additional tariffs of 100 per cent on all Chinese imports starting November 1, doubling down on his tough trade stance after Beijing expanded export curbs on rare earth elements and related technologies a day earlier.
The small company, which employs more than 70 workers and generates 50 million yuan (US$7 million) in annual revenue, typically handles tens of thousands of orders a year, averaging several thousand units per month.