As Trump targets trade, a Chinese factory says its been hired to make flags for Trump's 2020 campaign
Trending News
REUTERS/Stringer
An employee makes hand held flags of the United States at a textile factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China.
A Chinese factory that used to make red scarves for young communists said it has been contracted to make flags for President Donald Trump's 2020 election campaign.
"We also make flags for Trump for 2020. It seems like he has another campaign going on in 2020. Isn't that right?" Li Jiang told NPR's The Indicator podcast.
Kevin Hagen/Getty Images
Trump supporters hold a blue and white 'Make America Great Again' flag in front of Trump Tower, New York City.
NPR said Li is making "blue and white Trump 2020 flags," though his factory and many in the Zhejiang region made Trump and Hillary Clinton flags during 2016. According to NPR, the Trump campaign was ordering so many more flags than Clinton's side that locals joke they were the first to know the businessman would become president.
The committee organizing the Trump 2020 campaign, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., last year stated its commitment to "buy American" and that it has "produced and manufactured all of our merchandise right here in America" down to the American-made stitching on its Make America Great Again hats.The committee said "we put America First and take great pride in selling 100% Made in the USA products to our supporters throughout the country."Executive Director Michael Glassner said in a statement at the time that "All the way through 2020 and beyond, we will proudly continue to sell American products and introduce new one... to help Make America Great Again."
But it is unclear if the organization is the one to have ordered these flags and, if it did, whether it considers them to be "merchandise" that needs to be made in the US as they are potentially given away at rallies and events rather than sold to supporters.
As for a potential trade war affecting sales, Li, who used to make about a dime off each $1 flag he sold, told NPR he is unconcerned."We are not so worried because first of all, we have a big price advantage over our competitors. And our clients are very smart. They would always go to the cheapest place. If China is cheap, they go to China. If America is cheap, they go to America."
Business Insider contacted the Trump 2020 campaign to confirm whether it has contracted flags to be made in China and will update this post when it receives a response.
Copyright © 2021. Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. Times Syndication Service.
Next