Latest news with #China-manufactured
IOL News
7 days ago
- IOL News
From hills to hope, water project drives development in Lesotho
This aerial drone photo taken on July 7, 2025, shows the construction site of the Tunnel Boring Machine Access Adit for Polihali Transfer Tunnel in Mokhotlong District, eastern Lesotho. Image: Xinhua / Yang Guang As night falls over the northern highlands of Lesotho in early July, winter's chill sets in. Yet the Polihali Transfer Tunnel construction site remains a hive of activity. "We have deployed round-the-clock operations with three rotating shifts," said Julius Topo, site manager for the tunnel excavation. A worker monitors the operation of a rock drilling rig at the Tunnel Boring Machine(TBM) Access Adit construction site, in Mokhotlong District, eastern Lesotho, on July 6, 2025. Image: Xinhua / Yang Guang Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Polihali Transfer Tunnel is the second phase of the multi-phased Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). Designed to supply water from Lesotho to the Gauteng region and surrounding areas in South Africa, the project marks a flagship for this landlocked country and its neighbour. The 38-km tunnel will be excavated using two hard-rock shielded tunnel boring machines (TBM), operating simultaneously from Polihali and Katse. Guests cut the ribbon during the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Arrival Ceremony at the Caledonspoort Border Post in Butha-Buthe District, northern Lesotho, on July 5, 2025. Image: Xinhua / Yang Guang The first TBM began boring from the Katse site earlier this year. On July 5, a launch ceremony was held for the second TBM at the Caledonspoort Border Post in Butha-Buthe, Lesotho. This China-manufactured machine was shipped to Durban Port and will be assembled at the Polihali site. It is expected to significantly speed up the excavation process to meet the slated 2028 completion date. Speaking at the ceremony, South Africa's High Commissioner to Lesotho Constance Seoposengwe said she believed the new machine would give further impetus to the already ongoing work on the project. "The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is more than just a water project," she said. "Local jobs have been created, and new roads have been built in the Kingdom." Lesotho children watch a convoy of trucks transporting components of a China-manufactured hard-rock shielded tunnel boring machine (TBM) on a hillside near Pitseng, in Leribe District, northern Lesotho, on July 6, 2025. Image: Xinhua / Yang Guang Constructed by Kopano Ke Matla (KKM), a joint venture between China's Yellow River Company, Sinohydro Bureau 3, and South Africa's Unik Civil Engineering, the tunnel is the largest ongoing infrastructure project between the two countries. Its very name, KKM, meaning "unity is strength" in the Sesotho language, one of the official languages of Lesotho, reflects the diversity and inclusiveness of the workforce. Topo, a veteran of the LHWP's first phase in the 1990s, underpinned the importance of passing on experience. "TBMs were used in Phase I, but 30 years have passed. Now it is time for me to share my knowledge with local colleagues to enhance site organisation," he said. "Managing a multicultural team has many challenges, but I am learning from the Chinese and sharing what I know. We are getting along," he added. Liu Xiaolan (2nd R), a civil engineer of the Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture, speaks with workers at the Segment Factory of the Polihali Transfer Tunnel Project, in Mokhotlong District, eastern Lesotho, on July 7, 2025. Polihali Transfer Tunnel is part of Phase II of the multi-phased Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). Image: Xinhua / Yang Guang According to Xu Xishuai, the commercial manager of KKM, more than 99 percent of the skilled workforce is locally hired, creating over 1,800 jobs since the company's involvement. "The project has improved local infrastructure, provided employment, and passed on essential vocational skills. It is more than just tunnel construction," Xu said. While the project is still underway, its benefits are already evident. Regional transport services have expanded. A significant portion of engineers, subcontractors and suppliers are local. And the use of local construction materials and catering services has kept spending within the community, reinforcing the project's positive community impact. Born in the nearby village of Bafali, tunnel engineer Montso Lebitsa has witnessed the changes firsthand. "Traveling from Mapholaneng to Katse used to take more than eight hours due to poor traffic. Now, it takes less than two, thanks to the new road built for the project," Lebitsa recalled with a smile. Health support has also improved. "The Chinese medical team comes here from time to time to provide free health services to workers and residents. We are in remote areas where clinics or health facilities are far from the communities," said Maseqhoang Sechaba, the project's community liaison officer. Masiphola Sekonyela, chief of Tloha Re Bue, one of the areas near the Polihali site, praised the project's contributions. "When I heard the Chinese would lead this project, I was excited. They work hard and know how to get the job done," he said. "Our people rely on farming and herding, but now they have jobs, better access to goods, and more options for the future." Workers of the Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture take part in a training session at the Skills Training Center for the Polihali Transfer Tunnel Project, in Mokhotlong District, eastern Lesotho, on July 7, 2025. Image: Xinhua / Yang Guang Pride Mudzingwa, chief executive officer of Tashie Training and Business Solutions, is overseeing the vocational training effort for KKM. "We have categorised participants as unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled so we can tailor classes accordingly," Mudzingwa said. Class sizes have been reduced from 20-25 people to 10-15 for better outcomes. Courses range from five-day workshops to three-year programs and cover plumbing, fixing, quality assurance, and more. With an investment of more than 44 million Lesotho lotis (2.47 million US dollars), the program aims to train more than 6,000 skilled workers over three years. So far, more than 500 have completed training and returned to work. "We issue certificates recognised across Southern African countries, which means workers can stay employed or even be promoted after the project ends," said Rethabile Letsoalo, community/client liaison officer of Tashie Training and Business Solutions. "This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many, and we are grateful that our Chinese partners are giving it for free," Letsoalo said. Trucks transport components of a China-manufactured hard-rock shielded tunnel boring machine (TBM) along a mountain road in Thaba-Tseka District, eastern Lesotho, on July 8, 2025. Image: Xinhua / Yang Guang For Mpoi Elizabeth Rankhethoa, a translator at the Katse site who graduated last year from the Central University of Finance and Economics in China on a full scholarship, returning home to work on this project has been eye-opening. "We rarely have a project of this scale in Lesotho, and it truly means a lot," Rankhethoa said. "It is not the first time China and Lesotho have worked together, and it certainly won't be the last." Xinhua
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Cooler Recall Expanded to 1.28 Million Units Over Risk of Fingertip Injuries
Texas-based Igloo Products Corp. is expanding its recall of rolling coolers, withdrawing 130,000 more from the market as they pose safety risks to users, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in a May 8 On Feb. 13, more than a million Igloo rolling coolers were The recall of Igloo 90 Qt. Flip & Tow Rolling Coolers cited the tow handle pinching 'consumers' fingertips against the cooler, posing fingertip amputation and crushing hazards.' 'Since the recall was announced in February 2025, Igloo has received 78 reports of fingertip injuries, including 26 resulting in fingertip amputations, bone fractures, or lacerations,' CPSC said in the May 8 recall notice. The items were sold on the company website as well as other sites such as Amazon and through stores nationwide such as Costco, Target, Academy, Dick's, and others. Made in the United States, the rolling coolers were sold for $80–$140 between January 2019 and January 2025. Related Stories 5/9/2025 5/8/2025 'The date of manufacture is imprinted on the bottom of the cooler in a circular pattern,' said the notice. 'Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled coolers and contact Igloo for a free replacement handle.' The Epoch Times has reached out to Igloo Products for comment. Another recall of coolers was initiated last year when Hong Kong-based Anker Innovations Limited The withdrawal, done in March, was made as lithium batteries in the China-manufactured item were deemed to pose a risk of overheating. At the time, the company had received five reports of overheating, smoke, and fire. Chinese Product Risks The Trump administration recently enacted a policy that would boost protections against faulty products. On May 2, the United States ended a 'de minimis' The exemption allowed goods valued at $800 or lower to enter the United States without being subjected to taxes and duties. China used the loophole to flood the American market with cheap products. In a Feb. 4 The agency, 'which is charged with protecting American families from unreasonable risk of injury from consumer products, has long been concerned about the enforcement challenges when Chinese firms, with little or no U.S. presence, distribute consumer products under the de minimis provision,' he said. The provision allowed Chinese companies to avoid tariffs and circumvent paperwork filings and safety assurances, Feldman added. 'Thanks to President Trump's leadership, Chinese shippers who import dangerous consumer products in violation of U.S. laws will no longer be able to hide behind the de minimis provision and put American families at risk,' he said. A March 25 There were 869 injuries in 2024 linked to product recalls, which is more than double what was reported five years back, it said. In 2023, injury reports totaled 549. In addition, CPSC issued 63 product warnings last year, up from 38 in the previous year and just three in 2020. Feldman attributed the big jump in product warnings to items being shipped from China. 'The United States is facing a flood of Chinese consumer products that violate U.S. safety laws,' he said. 'When CPSC identifies illegal Chinese goods, the manufacturer is, more often than not, unreachable, unfindable, or uncooperative.'
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Consumer brands eye European markets as US tariffs impact demand
Consumer brands eye European markets as US tariffs impact demand Show Caption Hide Caption Trump meets with retail CEOs to discuss tariffs President Trump recently met with executives from major retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's and Target to discuss the impact of his tariffs. Cheddar Growing numbers of retailers and consumer brands are shifting their focus to Europe and other markets from the United States, as they expect U.S. tariffs to spark price hikes that will drive American consumer demand down. European online fashion retailer Zalando which sells logistics and software services to other retailers, said on Tuesday it was in talks with prospective new clients looking to expand in the European market. "We see brands and retailers really having a larger focus on Europe as a way to also generate additional demand if it gets more difficult to do this in the U.S.," Zalando co-CEO David Schroeder said. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has slapped a blanket 10% tariff on all imports into the country, and 145% tariffs on goods made in China. German clothing brand Hugo Boss has rerouted China-manufactured products to other markets instead of the U.S., and said there was a "notable deterioration" in U.S. consumer spending in the first quarter due to growing uncertainty over the economy. Tariffs hit retailers: Temu halts shipments to US, shifts to selling from American warehouses "We are currently taking a rather cautious stance regarding consumer behavior in the U.S.," its CEO Daniel Grieder said on Tuesday as the company reported lower revenues compared to last year. The reaction highlights the impact of Trump's tariffs on the flow of consumer products around the globe, forcing companies to shake up long-established patterns of manufacturing and sales. Key will be how U.S. consumers react to price increases as a result of tariffs. Barbie maker Mattel MAT.O on Monday pulled its annual guidance, saying there was too much uncertainty over consumer spending, and that tariffs would force it to raise prices in the U.S. For its card game UNO, Mattel said it was shipping more China-manufactured games internationally to avoid U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, while increasing production of UNO in India to serve U.S. customers. The CEO of Italian fashion group OTB, which owns brands including Diesel, Jil Sander and Maison Margiela, said on Monday it would have to increase its prices in the U.S. by 8-9% to offset the impact of tariffs. While European brands previously proudly advertised their sales to U.S. consumers, world leaders in spending on clothes and shoes, they have pivoted to trying to reassure investors they are not overly exposed. The U.S. accounts for around 20% of German sportswear brand Adidas' business, CEO Bjorn Gulden said last week in a results call, adding that "for 80% of our business these tariffs have no impact". "We believe we can currently gain more momentum in the other markets," said Gulden. "We can kind of finance the losses... on margin in the U.S. by overachieving in the other markets." More focus on Europe will however increase competition among retailers, and may make it harder for brands to win over new customers. The tariffs have also triggered concerns in the region that low-value goods could be dumped on the market. Cut-price online retailers Shein and Temu, whose main market is the U.S., have increased their advertising spend in Europe as they seek to mitigate the impact of the U.S. hiking tariffs on Chinese goods and removing a duty-free exemption for low-value e-commerce packages from China. Reporting by Helen Reid in London, Ozan Ergenay in Gdansk, Elisa Anzolin in Milan, Juveria Tabassum in Bangalore; Editing by Jan Harvey
Fashion Network
06-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Spooked by US tariffs, retailers look for growth in Europe
U.S. President Donald Trump 's administration has slapped a blanket 10% tariff on all imports into the country, and 145% tariffs on goods made in China. German clothing brand Hugo Boss has rerouted China-manufactured products to other markets instead of the U.S., and said there was a "notable deterioration" in U.S. consumer spending in the first quarter due to growing uncertainty over the economy. "We are currently taking a rather cautious stance regarding consumer behavior in the U.S.," its CEO Daniel Grieder said on Tuesday as the company reported lower revenues compared to last year. The reaction highlights the impact of Trump's tariffs on the flow of consumer products around the globe, forcing companies to shake up long-established patterns of manufacturing and sales. Key will be how U.S. consumers react to price increases as a result of tariffs. Barbie maker Mattel on Monday pulled its annual guidance, saying there was too much uncertainty over consumer spending, and that tariffs would force it to raise prices in the U.S. For its card game UNO, Mattel said it was shipping more China-manufactured games internationally to avoid U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, while increasing production of UNO in India to serve U.S. customers. The CEO of Italian fashion group OTB, which owns brands including Diesel, Jil Sander and Maison Margiela, said on Monday it would have to increase its prices in the U.S. by 8-9% to offset the impact of tariffs. While European brands previously proudly advertised their sales to U.S. consumers, world leaders in spending on clothes and shoes, they have pivoted to trying to reassure investors they are not overly exposed. The U.S. accounts for around 20% of German sportswear brand Adidas ' business, CEO Bjorn Gulden said last week in a results call, adding that "for 80% of our business these tariffs have no impact". "We believe we can currently gain more momentum in the other markets," said Gulden. "We can kind of finance the losses... on margin in the U.S. by overachieving in the other markets." More focus on Europe will however increase competition among retailers, and may make it harder for brands to win over new customers. The tariffs have also triggered concerns in the region that low-value goods could be dumped on the market. Cut-price online retailers Shein and Temu, whose main market is the U.S., have increased their advertising spend in Europe as they seek to mitigate the impact of the U.S. hiking tariffs on Chinese goods and removing a duty-free exemption for low-value e-commerce packages from China.
Fashion Network
06-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Spooked by US tariffs, retailers look for growth in Europe
Growing numbers of retailers and consumer brands are shifting their focus to Europe and other markets from the United States, as they expect U.S. tariffs to spark price hikes that will drive American consumer demand down. European online fashion retailer Zalando, which sells logistics and software services to other retailers, said on Tuesday it was in talks with prospective new clients looking to expand in the European market. "We see brands and retailers really having a larger focus on Europe as a way to also generate additional demand if it gets more difficult to do this in the U.S.," Zalando co-CEO David Schroeder said. U.S. President Donald Trump 's administration has slapped a blanket 10% tariff on all imports into the country, and 145% tariffs on goods made in China. German clothing brand Hugo Boss has rerouted China-manufactured products to other markets instead of the U.S., and said there was a "notable deterioration" in U.S. consumer spending in the first quarter due to growing uncertainty over the economy. "We are currently taking a rather cautious stance regarding consumer behavior in the U.S.," its CEO Daniel Grieder said on Tuesday as the company reported lower revenues compared to last year. The reaction highlights the impact of Trump's tariffs on the flow of consumer products around the globe, forcing companies to shake up long-established patterns of manufacturing and sales. Key will be how U.S. consumers react to price increases as a result of tariffs. Barbie maker Mattel on Monday pulled its annual guidance, saying there was too much uncertainty over consumer spending, and that tariffs would force it to raise prices in the U.S. For its card game UNO, Mattel said it was shipping more China-manufactured games internationally to avoid U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, while increasing production of UNO in India to serve U.S. customers. The CEO of Italian fashion group OTB, which owns brands including Diesel, Jil Sander and Maison Margiela, said on Monday it would have to increase its prices in the U.S. by 8-9% to offset the impact of tariffs. While European brands previously proudly advertised their sales to U.S. consumers, world leaders in spending on clothes and shoes, they have pivoted to trying to reassure investors they are not overly exposed. The U.S. accounts for around 20% of German sportswear brand Adidas ' business, CEO Bjorn Gulden said last week in a results call, adding that "for 80% of our business these tariffs have no impact". "We believe we can currently gain more momentum in the other markets," said Gulden. "We can kind of finance the losses... on margin in the U.S. by overachieving in the other markets." More focus on Europe will however increase competition among retailers, and may make it harder for brands to win over new customers. The tariffs have also triggered concerns in the region that low-value goods could be dumped on the market. Cut-price online retailers Shein and Temu, whose main market is the U.S., have increased their advertising spend in Europe as they seek to mitigate the impact of the U.S. hiking tariffs on Chinese goods and removing a duty-free exemption for low-value e-commerce packages from China.
