10 Comments
User's avatar
Cory Panshin's avatar

When I was a little girl in the 1950s, my dad told me that generics were made by the same factories as the name brands and were identical except for the labels. 70 years later it sounds like China is just taking this to the next level.

Expand full comment
Kit Campoy's avatar

They totally are. They're telling everyone what's going on.

Expand full comment
Carole Marlowe's avatar

The smoke and mirrors analogy is perfect! And thanks for clearly describing the moving parts in this ongoing reveal. Damn, are we ever in major seesaw!!!

Expand full comment
Kit Campoy's avatar

It's literally so wild.

Expand full comment
Harrison's avatar

Love this! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining industry line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.

check us out:

https://thesecretingredient.substack.com

Expand full comment
Eric Purchase's avatar

Great stuff. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Truth Seeking Missile's avatar

Wonderful! I love "cheap shit" from China. Isn't that what comparative advantage is all about? Glad they are showing the oligarchs and monsters of industry a thing or two - and letting us buy low.

Expand full comment
The Una_Bonger's avatar

The de minimis exemption is no longer in effect.

Expand full comment
Tim Connolly's avatar

Nice take. How is this idea different than Temu’s model? They were almost like direct to consumer taking advantage of the under 800 dollar exclusion which I understand is going to go away soon

Expand full comment