Tariffs Are the New COVID for Marketers 🦠

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🧠 Big Story: 
Tariffs Are the New COVID for Marketers 🦠

📊 Key Data:
Temu Vanishes From US Ad Space 📉

📖 Ecommerce players news:

🇺🇸 Shein, Temu Raise Prices Due to U.S. Tariffs.
🇺🇸 Amazon Haul Shifts to Big Brands Amid Tariffs.
🇺🇸 Shein, Temu Shoppers Cut Spending Amid Tariff Fears.
🇺🇸 Amazon, TikTok Shop Gain Beauty Market Share.
🇬🇧 Lidl Tests Click & Collect in UK.
🇹🇷 Uber Eyes Trendyol Go Acquisition.

+ over 15 handpicked hot ecommerce news from the last week you need to know 🔥

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Tariffs Are the New COVID for Marketers 🦠

Tariffs were supposed to punish rivals. Instead, they're punching holes in consumer wallets, ad budgets, and global supply chains. Forget spreadsheets—this is economic whack-a-mole, and everyone’s losing. Here’s how the world is reacting

Tariffs = Trouble 💸

BCG’s Feb '25 survey of 7.3K consumers shows one thing clearly—tariffs aren’t winning hearts or wallets. Across 8 major economies, 60–77% of consumers think tariffs will jack up inflation and prices. Germany (77%) and Brazil (76%) lead the panic parade, while even China (55%) and the U.S. (56%) aren’t far behind. Only 4–8% in Japan, France, and the UK disagree.

China & India cheer 📈

45% of consumers in China & India believe their countries will win in a trade war. That optimism drops fast: only 29% in the U.S. and 11% in Germany agree. Meanwhile, Brazil (53%), France (50%), & Japan (48%) think tariffs will backfire.

Retail’s ad budgets crumble 📉

40% of U.S. retail advertisers are slashing ad spend in ’25—more than any other sector. Electronics (33%), media (28%) & auto (26%) follow close behind. Tariffs introduced by Trump have sent shockwaves through ad planning, hitting sectors exposed to China & Asia hardest. Meanwhile, CPG brands? Only 5% are cutting.

Scroll tax hits hard 📵

41% of advertisers plan to cut social media spend in ’25 due to tariffs—more than any other channel. Gaming & linear TV (24%), display (20%), & paid search (16%) follow. Global brands expect 6–10% budget drops. As inflation bites, “made local” messaging may matter more than TikTok trends.

Tariffs force reinvention 🔧

71% of execs are shifting supply chains, 61% adding suppliers, and 57% raising prices to cope with tariff fallout. Only 2% are doing nothing. Bain's 2025 survey shows CEOs dumping “just-in-time” for “just-survive.” The old global playbook is toast—resilience, traceability, and strategic trade-offs are the new religion. Supply chain ops are no longer logistics—they’re life support.

Temu Vanishes From U.S. Ad Space 📉

Temu didn’t just tap the brakes—it floored them. Between April 1 and April 12, the Chinese-owned ecommerce giant cut all major U.S. ad spend, pulling its share of Google Shopping impressions from 19% to a stunning 0%. Social platforms didn’t escape either. Pathmatics data shows spend on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Snapchat collapsed. Sponsored TikToks? From two videos on April 1 to zero. Even Temu’s app ranking slid, falling from #1 to #11 in the shopping category by April 9. All signs point to a total retreat.

Why the sudden ghosting? Trump’s tariff hikes are the prime suspect. With Chinese imports now facing 125% duties, Temu’s margin-friendly, direct-from-China model buckled. The platform had previously benefited from the “under $800” tariff loophole—but mounting political heat is forcing a pivot.

Trump’s Tariffs Won’t Save American E-Commerce.

Marketplace Pulse explores how the share of China-based sellers on Amazon and Walmart evolved despite Trump-era tariffs. It highlights how U.S. policy had limited impact on reshoring e-commerce activity. 👉 Marketplace Pulse

Top 500 B2C Cross-Border Retail Europe 2024.

Cross-Border Commerce Europe shares its annual ranking of the top 500 online cross-border shops in the EU. The report reveals that marketplaces continue to grow their share even as total revenue fluctuates. 👉 CBCommerce

🇺🇸 Shein, Temu Raise Prices Due to U.S. Tariffs. Shein and Temu will increase U.S. prices from April 25, 2025, due to 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. The $800 duty-free exemption ends, impacting their low-cost model. 👉 TechCrunch

🇺🇸 Amazon Haul Shifts to Big Brands Amid Tariffs. Amazon Haul adds brands like Adidas from May 2, 2025, to counter tariffs ending the $800 de minimis rule. Prices rise from under $20 to $20.99-$34.82, with 1.4B packages affected in 2024. 👉 The Verge

🇺🇸 TikTok Tests Reviews to Rival Google Maps. TikTok trials location reviews and ratings in comments, challenging Google Maps as of April 2025. The move follows image search (June 2024) and search ads (September 2024). 👉 TechCrunch

🇺🇸 Taobao Hits Top 5 in U.S. App Store. Taobao climbs to No. 5 in U.S. App Store by April 2025, with 185K downloads (up 514%). Tariffs and TikTok videos drive U.S. shoppers to Chinese apps like Taobao and DHgate. 👉 TechCrunch

🇺🇸 Amazon Plans $15B Warehouse Expansion. Amazon aims to build 80 new U.S. warehouses for $15B, announced April 9, 2025. The plan seeks partners to boost logistics against rivals like Temu. 👉 Bloomberg

🇨🇳 Chinese E-commerce Boosts Domestic Sales. JD and PDD shift to domestic sales with 200B yuan ($27.3B) and 100B yuan plans by April 2025. Tariffs push platforms like Taobao and DHgate to adapt, with DHgate at No. 2 in U.S. App Store. 👉 China Daily

🇬🇧 JD.com Launches Joybuy in London. The move likely counters tariff pressures with global expansion. The platform is currently undergoing a soft launch with select users while merchants are being recruited. 👉 Tech in Asia

🇵🇱 MetaRouter, Allegro Team Up on Data Systems. MetaRouter and Allegro improve data systems since early 2023 to meet EU laws. Marta Piotrowska says it turned “chaotic” data into a strength by April 2025. 👉 Executive Magazine

🇺🇸 Shein, Temu Shoppers Cut Spending Amid Tariff Fears. Nearly 30% of customers may stop shopping at Shein, Temu, and AliExpress if prices rise, with spending down 17% (Temu), 41% (Shein), and 38% (AliExpress) in 2025. Tariffs could hit 90% or $75/item by June 2025, says Omnisend’s Greg Zakowicz. 👉 Fashion Dive

🇺🇸 Amazon, TikTok Shop Gain Beauty Market Share. Amazon’s beauty market share will rise from 10% to 15% by 2030, and TikTok Shop from 1% to 3%, in a $115B U.S. market. Traditional retailers like Walmart, Target, and Sephora will lose ground, with e-commerce hitting 50% share soon. 👉 Retail Dive

🇩🇪 Zalando Cuts 450 Customer Service Jobs in Berlin. Zalando will lay off 450 workers to streamline operations, creating a new 200-job unit for complex issues like fraud. Affected employees must reapply, with changes set for summer 2025, following earlier cuts two years ago. 👉 TVP Info

🇫🇷 Vestiaire Launches Luxury Resale Buying Guide. Vestiaire Collective’s April 14, 2025, guide analyzes over 400 brands to help buyers choose high-value second-hand luxury items. It meets growing demand for sustainable fashion as luxury prices rise and fast fashion dominates. 👉 Fashion Dive

🇺🇸 TikTok Lays Off U.S. Ecommerce Staff. TikTok cut jobs in its U.S. ecommerce unit after missing 2024 goals, with exec Bob Kang criticizing performance. Senior leaders like Blake Chandlee left, and tariff issues plus no U.S. buyer add pressure for 2025. 👉 Adweek

🇪🇸 Decathlon Opens Second-Hand Cycling Shop. Decathlon’s 180 m² store in Spain offers over 120 premium bikes with a 1-year warranty, led by Diego García. Adrián Hervella says it promotes sustainability and affordability, partnering with Wallapop Pro for sales. 👉 Ecommerce News

🇬🇧 Lidl Tests Click & Collect in UK. Lidl launched a "Click, Reserve & Collect" trial on April 3, 2025, letting Lidl Plus app users reserve middle aisle items like a £199 lawnmower. It aims to boost app engagement and secure high-demand products. 👉 Distribución Actualidad

🇹🇷 Uber Eyes Trendyol Go Acquisition. Uber is in talks to buy Turkey’s Trendyol Go to re-enter the food delivery market after exiting in 2019. The deal, reported April 17, 2025, involves Alibaba-backed Trendyol, but terms are undisclosed. 👉 Investing.com

🇨🇳 JD.com Hires 50K Couriers for Fast Delivery. JD.com plans to hire 50,000 couriers to expand 30-minute delivery in China, leveraging 750+ warehouses. The move, reported April 2025, builds on JD’s logistics for same-day delivery in 200+ cities. 👉 Tech in Asia

🇪🇺 Wolt Partners with Deutsche Telekom. Wolt and Deutsche Telekom teamed up on April 14, 2025, to offer free Wolt+ subscriptions in seven European countries, starting with Croatia. The deal provides zero delivery fees and 10% cashback for Magenta Moments members. 👉 Tech.eu

🇸🇪 IKEA Trials DIY Delivery in Europe. IKEA started a “Do-It-Yourself-Delivery” trial on April 1, 2025, in Utrecht, Vienna, and Stockholm, offering rentable bikes and carts. It targets urban shoppers and supports sustainability goals. 👉 Revista InfoRetail

🇬🇧 Lidl Tests Click & Collect in UK. Lidl launched a "Click, Reserve & Collect" trial on April 3, 2025, letting Lidl Plus app users reserve middle aisle items like a £199 lawnmower. It aims to boost app engagement and secure high-demand products. 👉 Distribución Actualidad

🇹🇷 Uber Eyes Trendyol Go Acquisition. Uber is in talks to buy Turkey’s Trendyol Go to re-enter the food delivery market after exiting in 2019. The deal, reported April 17, 2025, involves Alibaba-backed Trendyol, but terms are undisclosed. 👉 Investing.com

🇨🇳 JD.com Hires 50K Couriers for Fast Delivery. JD.com plans to hire 50,000 couriers to expand 30-minute delivery in China, leveraging 750+ warehouses. The move, reported April 2025, builds on JD’s logistics for same-day delivery in 200+ cities. 👉 Tech in Asia

🇪🇺 Wolt Partners with Deutsche Telekom. Wolt and Deutsche Telekom teamed up on April 14, 2025, to offer free Wolt+ subscriptions in seven European countries, starting with Croatia. The deal provides zero delivery fees and 10% cashback for Magenta Moments members. 👉 Tech.eu

🇸🇪 IKEA Trials DIY Delivery in Europe. IKEA started a “Do-It-Yourself-Delivery” trial on April 1, 2025, in Utrecht, Vienna, and Stockholm, offering rentable bikes and carts. It targets urban shoppers and supports sustainability goals. 👉 Revista InfoRetail

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