’Ruination Day‘ brings a crisis for world trade as the ‘mindless vandalism’ of Trump’s tariffs take grip, but exhibition organisers are keeping calm as trade events tap new markets
WE’VE heard the phrase “the world will never being the same again” surrounding events that are cataclysmic: conflict, human disasters. Rarely is it used in the case of economic policy as we have seen this week in what US President Donald Trump labelled “Liberation Day”. As a reasoned counterbalance to this, we have The Economist referring to this imposition of tariffs and disruption of global trade as Ruination Day.
In this part of the world, the signs are that China is not backing down in the face of a threatened 120 per cent tariff even with Beijing releasing a white paper on Wednesday seeking to “resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation”, according to reports.
As this unfolds, business event organisers would do well to lean upon that age-old Chinese adage: Where there is crisis, there’s opportunity.
Instead of looking inward, China will likely be reaching out to other, more friendlier markets whether that be through the easing of trade tensions with the European Union, adding impetus to homegrown companies, once again revitalising those Belt and Road partnerships or nurturing win-wins with economies across Asia Pacific and worldwide.
That means business event and trade show organisers will also be reevaluating this changing world with Asia, particularly China-based manufacturers, giving the United States a swerve unless there’s a miraculous outcome from high-level trade negotiations.
Our friends at Exhibition World in London have come up with a Top 5 of trade shows in Asia and Europe that are likely to benefit from this pivot away from the US as a leading export market:
Shenzhen World
1/ Chinaplas – April 15-17 The plastics and rubber trade fair has a strong focus on the Asia market, EW reports, with a high chance of more buyers and sellers flocking to the massive Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Centre in the Bao’an district of the tech metropolis. ORGANISER: Various, from Adsale Exhibition Services and industry associations to Messe Dusseldorf China
2/ CommunicAsia – May 27-29 Regarded as Asia’s leading information and communications technology (ICT) exhibition, the event at Singapore Expo may well see keener interest from Asian and European attendees as US tech companies are hit by trade barriers and suppliers in this part of the world muddle through the crisis. ORGANISER: Informa
BITEC, Bangkok
3/ METEC Southeast Asia– September 17-19 As elsewhere in the world of trade, uncertainty prevails in the sourcing of metals along with the innovation and selling of products that are manufactured from them. The International Metallurgical Trade Fair and Forum (METEC Southeast Asia), being held at BITEC on the outskirts of Bangkok, will help show participants find ideas to navigate their way around the Trump tantrums. ORGANISER: Messe Dusseldorf Asia
4/ FOODEX Japan – March 10-13, 2026 Japan’s trade negotiators may be the first scurrying to the White House seeking a better deal from the tariff torrent, but Asia’s F&B industry buyers cannot resist Japanese produce. EW reckons duty on US food exports will have buyers in Asia pivoting to regional sources and that means stronger attendance at Tokyo Big Sight for the next edition of FOODEX Japan. ORGANISER: Japan Management Association
5/ISM Cologne – February 1-4, 2026 Who needs Hersheys when the world can feast on the chocolate and confectionary delights created in Europe? A look around high-end malls in Asia is enough to trigger that sweet tooth with Lindt, Godiva and more treats from Belgium and Switzerland offering comfort in these times of bitter trade tensions. ISM Cologne saw a rise in exhibitors catering to confectionary and snack buyers this year and can expect more as entry to the US market becomes more challenging. ORGANISER: Koelnmesse
So exhibition organisers have plenty to be optimistic about by doing what they’ve always done to survive, namely thinking on their feet and making mutually smart moves when it comes to tapping markets, matching buyers with suppliers, and collaborating with counterparts across Asia Pacific – and Europe.
With usually staid media outlets such as The Economist dubbing Trump’s moves as a “mindless vandalism in disrupting the world order of trade… a catalogue of foolishness” and the US President having a “pathetic grasp of technicalities”, we are certainly living in interesting times, to borrow another Chinese adage.
Growth in Vietnam and Cambodia arose from exports to the US, often as an alternate manufacturing outpost to China. Here we have just two prime examples during these interesting times.
The new era calls for collaboration as opposed to reckless competition and an opportunity for organisers to avert further crises by fostering ties with those emerging markets. A case of the big guys in this part of the world helping out the smaller guys as the vandal throws his weight around.
