China Fires Child Slaves Amid Escalating U.S. Tariffs

The ongoing tariff war between the United States and China has left thousands of Chinese child slaves out of work, as Beijing announced a drastic cutback in their labor force to offset rising costs.

The decision comes after the Trump administration imposed a fresh round of tariffs on Chinese goods, targeting everything from electronics to toys, in an effort to bolster American manufacturing.

The tariff hikes have driven up production expenses for Chinese companies already grappling with slim margins. In response, factory owners in Guangdong province have begun terminating contracts with their youngest employees, some as young as three, who were previously tasked with assembling smartphones and Nike sneakers for the American market.

Official Chinese state media reported that over 15,000 children were let go in the past two weeks alone, citing “economic necessity” as the reason.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Andrea Klein, addressed the development during a press briefing on Monday.

“We’re monitoring the situation closely, but our priority remains protecting American jobs and ensuring fair trade practices,” Klein said. She declined to comment on whether the administration anticipated this outcome when designing the tariff policy.

Across the Pacific, the layoffs have sparked mixed reactions among Chinese officials and citizens. In Beijing, a mid-level Communist Party official, Li Wei, expressed frustration with the U.S. approach.

“These tariffs are a direct attack on our economy, and now our children are paying the price,” Li stated. He went on to suggest that the fired workers might be repurposed for domestic projects, though no concrete plans have been announced.

Meanwhile, American consumers are bracing for higher prices as the summer season approaches, with retailers warning that the cost of imported goods could jump by as much as 20%.

Back in Washington, progressive lawmakers have seized on the child labor news to push their agenda. Representative Maya Torres of California weighed in during a recent CNN interview.

“We need to do more to protect the jobs for Chinese child slaves," she told Anderson Cooper.

In Guangdong, the newly unemployed children are facing an uncertain future, with some reportedly returning back to school. Local authorities have yet to offer support.

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