"We'll return it tenfold"... China retaliates against Americans

"A 1250% service charge for American guests"

Sharing boycott lists and alternative brand lists for American products

Government stimulates public sentiment with travel and study abroad advisories

As U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 145% tariff on China, anti-American sentiment is growing in China. There is a trend of 'patriotic consumption' where Americans are being charged service fees in restaurants and hotels, and there is a push to support Chinese products.

According to Weibo in China, a Chinese developer education institution recently announced a 'notice to American customers' stating that they would charge a 1250% service fee on annual membership fees and tuition for American customers, saying "We'll return it tenfold." They also stated that they would not provide online lecture services to American customers and would reject payment methods from the U.S. mainland.

A jewelry store in Shaanxi Province declared it would charge a 104% service fee for customers with American nationality, while a car inspection center in Nanning City announced it would charge an additional 100% fee for American-made cars regardless of engine displacement.

The atmosphere of rejecting Americans is spreading across industries such as eyewear stores and hotels. Although it has not been confirmed whether there are American customers visiting these stores, it is interpreted as a show of determination not to succumb to the U.S.'s 'tariff bomb' on China.

On Weibo and Xiaohongshu, boycott lists and alternative brand lists for American products are circulating. Huawei or Oppo are mentioned as alternatives to the iPhone, and Luckin Coffee or Chinese milk tea brands are mentioned instead of Starbucks.

One Xiaohongshu user emphasized, "With government support for Chinese companies, consumers actively purchasing Chinese products will be a strong force," and "Let's show the world the excellence of Chinese products."

Recently, Chinese airline Zhixiang Airlines postponed the acquisition of aircraft ordered from American Boeing. Zhixiang Airlines initially planned to acquire one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner worth $120 million (about 170 billion KRW). Although the reason for the postponement is not known, it is diagnosed that the intensifying tariff war between the U.S. and China may have influenced it.

Earlier, President Trump raised the reciprocal tariff rate on China to 125%, resulting in a cumulative additional tariff rate of 145% on Chinese products. In response, China announced it would retaliate with a 125% counter-tariff.

As the tariff war between the two countries escalates to extremes, it is expected that the negative sentiment towards American products in China will continue for the time being. It seems that the government will indirectly foster this atmosphere. Recently, China announced advisories for its citizens to refrain from traveling or studying in the U.S. and stated that it would gradually reduce the import of American films.

Reporter Subin Park from Hankyung.com waterbean@hankyung.com