Chinese Factory Sold Over 100,000 ‘Boycott China’ T-Shirts and Caps to the USA
Brian Sankarsingh wonders about supply chain and the interconnectedness of it all
TO OUR LOYAL READERS: Hi everyone, it’s Brian here. Before we dive into today’s article, I’d like to ask for a small favour. This year, we're aiming to grow our community of readers. We're proud to be in the top 1% of Substack publishers for consistent content — which means you can count on us for a steady stream of engaging, thought-provoking articles, all completely free.
We don’t charge for subscriptions, but if you enjoy what you read here, please consider sharing our Substack with a friend or colleague. It’s a simple way to support our work and help us reach more curious minds.
Thanks so much! Now, here’s today’s article
This headline may sound like satire, but it could be very real: a Chinese factory recently shipped more than 100,000 T-shirts and caps printed with the slogan “Boycott China” to the United States. A factory in China mass-produced merchandise calling for a boycott of its own country — and sold it to American buyers. This is just one sharp example of the contradictions inside Trump’s trade war and the MAGA protest culture.
It only takes a smidgen of common sense to know that the only reason this happens is because it’s about business and money. Factories take on custom printing jobs with no questions asked. If the money is there, the order goes through. These companies aren’t concerned with the politics of what’s printed. Their goal is to fulfill orders, move products and make money while doing so. American vendors order anti-China merchandise, and a Chinese facility deliver. The factory gets paid. The American buyer gets the merchandise. Everyone in the supply chain makes money. Ideology is irrelevant. Unless you insert an exorbitant tariff that makes it too expensive for the American buyer. So where before the t-shirt would have cost less than a dollar to produce and be retailed for twenty dollars. Now, it costs less than a dollar to produce but retails for fifty or more dollars.
MAGA is more than happy to add anti-China messaging to their already divisive message set and so in response, a “boycott China” movement has grown, urging consumers to stop buying Chinese-made products. But the irony is that much of this protest gear — the hats, shirts, and bumper stickers — is still made in China. Why? Because it's cheap – even with an extra tariff or fifty. And because American small businesses often don’t have access to affordable domestic manufacturing. In the end, it's easier to order from overseas, even if that means sourcing “boycott China” shirts from China itself.
This story is more than just ironic. It tells you something about modern protest, globalization, and convenience. It shows just how twisted the who MAGA protest can get. Even if you're trying to send a strong message — like rejecting China's economic role — you might still be tied to the very system you oppose. You may not have another option. Or the alternative might be too expensive to consider. This isn’t just true for T-shirts. It's true for electronics, appliances, packaging, and even the phone you’re reading this on. Many of the goods we rely on every day are made in countries people criticize — often in China. The “Boycott China” merchandise, made in China, shows how complicated it is to make values match reality.
Let’s face it, we are living in a deeply connected world. The idea that you can completely separate politics from commerce, or ethics from supply chains, is more fantasy than fact. Factories don’t care what’s printed. Buyers don’t always care where it’s made. And consumers often choose affordability over origin. So, a Chinese factory printing “Boycott China” caps? Not so surprising. It’s business — and business, more often than not, overrides ideology. If anything, this story is a useful reminder: your ideals live in a complex global system. And that system is full of contradictions. Recognizing those contradictions is the first step to making better, more informed choices. Not perfect ones — just better ones.
Bio: Brian Sankarsingh is a poetic firebrand, a sharp, thoughtful storyteller who walks the crossroads where Caribbean folklore, social justice, and the human condition collide. He is a truth-seeker who questions political tribes, challenges lazy platitudes, and writes with a deep pulse of empathy, always pushing for nuance whether you're exploring grief, cultural identity, or the monsters that haunt cane fields and hearts alike. He blends advocacy and art seamlessly. He is part historian, part philosopher, part bard, driven by a hunger to illuminate overlooked stories and empower marginalized voices.
Thanks for reading Seeking Veritas by The Professor, The Poet & Friends! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.