Global crowd flocks to McDonald's as borderless trade thrives at Canton Fair
Transparency
On the first day of the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), the venue was abuzz with international buyers. By 11:00 AM, the McDonald's on the lower level of the exhibition hall was fully occupied. Businesspeople from around the world gathered at its tables, speaking a mix of languages as they negotiated deals. Even as the US government tightens tariffs on China, American brands like McDonald's are enjoying strong performance at China's largest trade fair—a vivid reflection of the deeply intertwined global supply chain.
American food chains have built highly localized supply networks in China. Over 90% of McDonald's China ingredients are locally sourced and produced. Starbucks, too, brews coffee with beans from Yunnan in every cup served in China. These examples underscore the resilience of globalization and the reality of a global supply chain built in China, developed for China, and serving beyond China.
This year's Canton Fair offers countless examples of trade between the US and China, which seems to contradict the policy of the Trump Administration. American buyers are still placing orders for Chinese-made renewable energy products; Chinese manufacturers are building smart appliances with Texas Instruments (TI) chips; US-funded companies are thriving among the 31,000 exhibitors. Despite the aggressive tariff policies of the US, data from the General Administration of Customs of the Republic of China (GACC) shows that bilateral trade with the US still grew 4% in the first quarter, reaching 1.11 trillion yuan.
Industrial logic often transcends political barriers. From the early days of US-China diplomatic relations in 1979, when the first wave of multinationals entered the Chinese market, to Apple's supply chain, deeply embedded in China, market dynamics continue to find their way through the cracks of protectionism. Inside the fair, humanoid robots pitch themselves in multiple languages, while American-owned factories in China continue humming, disproving the narrative of "decoupling."
The bustling McDonald's at the fair is a microcosm of China's ongoing commitment to openness. As one Iranian buyer put it: "Here, business never asks where you're from—only whether you're sincere."
Source: Lingnan on the Cloud
广交会麦当劳“一位难求”，在这里赚钱从不问国籍
第137届广交会首日，万商云集。中午11点，广交会展馆负一楼麦当劳门店满座，各国客商在此用多种语言洽谈订单。美国对华挥舞关税大棒，其本土品牌却在中国最大贸易展上收获颇丰，彰显“你中有我”的产业链实情。
美国餐饮企业在中国构建起高本土化率产业网络，麦当劳中国超90%食材本土采购、生产，星巴克咖啡中总有云南咖啡豆，这是中美经济紧密相连的实证，“在中国、为中国、链全球”正是全球化坚韧的体现。
本届广交会上，“矛盾的统一”随处可见：美国采购商在新能源展区签中国制造订单，中国制造商用德州仪器芯片造智能家电，众多美资企业及其供应链伙伴活跃在3.1万家参展企业中。即便美国政府滥施关税，海关总署数据显示，一季度中美双边贸易仍增长4%，规模达1.11万亿元。
产业规律总能穿透政治藩篱，从1979年中美建交后首批入华跨国企业，到深度嵌入中国制造的苹果供应链，市场力量在关税壁垒间寻得生机。广交会展馆内人形机器人用多语言“自我推销”，美国企业在华工厂不停运转，“脱钩断链”沦为伪命题。
麦当劳门店里的全球化场景，是中国坚持开放的微观见证。正如伊朗采购商所言：“在这里，生意从来不问国籍，只问诚意 。”
文 | 记者 孙绮曼
图、视频 | 记者 邓鼎园 汤铭明
剪辑 | 记者 梁岚
包装 | 记者 余梓涛 张惠鑫
译 | 杨钧雅
英文审校 | 王枥焓