A significant amount of our net sales – approximately 40% in 2023 – originated in emerging markets, which includes countries in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Middle East/Northern Africa. The profitable growth of our business in emerging markets is a significant focus of our long-term growth strategy and our regional results have and can fluctuate significantly based on their economic conditions. Our business operations have been and may continue to be adversely affected by the current and future political environment in China, including as a result of its response to tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on goods imported from China, tariffs imposed by China on U.S. goods, the increasing use of economic sanctions and export control restrictions, any trade agreements entered into between the U.S. and China, and tensions related to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Our ability to operate in China or other emerging markets has been and may continue to be adversely affected by changes in the laws and regulations of these jurisdictions or their interpretation thereof, including those relating to taxation, import and export tariffs, raw materials, environmental regulations, land use rights, property, foreign currency conversion, the regulation of private enterprises and other matters.
Epidemics, pandemics or other outbreaks of illness, disease or virus and other adverse developments in emerging markets materially adversely affected our business at various times during the 2020-2023 period. There have been and could be further disruptions in our supply chain or ability to manufacture our products, as well as temporary closures of our facilities or those of our suppliers or customers, which have impacted and could in the future impact our sales and operating results.
If we are unable to successfully expand our business in emerging markets or achieve the return on capital we expect from our investments in these countries, our financial performance could be materially adversely affected. In addition to the risks applicable to our international operations, factors that have negatively impacted our operations in these emerging markets from time to time include the less established or reliable legal systems and possible disruptions due to unstable political conditions, civil unrest or economic volatility. These factors can have a material adverse effect on our business in the affected markets by decreasing consumer purchasing power, reducing demand for our products or increasing our costs.