On April 2, 2025, President Trump signed a new executive order enacting some of the most aggressive import tariffs the U.S. has seen in decades. These new measures—intended to reduce trade imbalances and boost American manufacturing—go into effect starting April 5, 2025 and will impact nearly every company that imports goods, components, or packaging materials into the United States.
For ecommerce brands and product-based businesses, especially those sourcing internationally, these changes present a clear and immediate need to reevaluate logistics strategies and protect profit margins.
A breakdown of the new tariff policy
Here are the core elements of Trump’s new tariff policy in 2025:
- 10% baseline tariff on all imports, beginning April 5
- Customized tariff rates on 60 countries, including:
- China: 54% (making China import taxes the most severe)
- Vietnam: 46%
- Cambodia: 49%
- Japan: 24%
- Thailand: 36%
- EU: 20%
- South Africa: 30%
- Taiwan: 32%
- 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles, effective immediately
- Canada and Mexico are exempt under previous executive orders
The tariffs will be charged to the companies importing these goods—but price increases may be passed along to consumers, creating ripple effects across retail, fulfillment, and ecommerce supply chain operations.
How this affects ecommerce and product-based businesses
Ecommerce-based businesses often rely on global sourcing, especially from Asia. These new Trump tariffs will lead to:
- Higher landed costs for raw materials and finished goods
- Margin compression on best-selling SKUs
- Shipping delays or pricing volatility across international freight
- Greater risk exposure for product-based businesses dependent on one primary source region
Products from countries like China, Vietnam, and Cambodia will see the steepest cost increases. That means ecommerce brands sourcing from those regions must urgently rethink logistics strategy, optimize costs, and diversify supply chains.
Industries likely to be most affected
- Apparel & accessories sourced from Vietnam, Cambodia, and China
- Home improvement tools and contractor-grade materials often manufactured in Taiwan and Thailand
- Consumer electronics with components sourced internationally
- Custom packaging and inserts, commonly produced in China or Southeast Asia
These changes will also impact domestic logistics providers, freight timelines, and small business tariffs across categories.
What your business should do right now
Audit your sourcing and inventory
Identify SKUs impacted by high-tariff countries. Talk with suppliers to understand China import taxes, cost increases, and delivery adjustments. Tools like Parsel can help visualize cost differences.
Reforecast for Q2 and Q3
Update your cost-of-goods sold (COGS) and margins to reflect changes. Consider temporarily pausing ads on high-cost SKUs if margins are too tight. This is key to maintaining financial health for small businesses affected by tariffs.
Diversify or localize
Explore nearshore suppliers or domestic manufacturers. This sourcing shift is crucial for product-based business logistics that need to stay nimble in a volatile global trade landscape. Saltbox’s co-warehousing model makes it easy to test small-batch pivots with minimal risk.
Lean into flexible logistics
If your current 3PL doesn’t allow you to adapt quickly, it may be time to switch. Saltbox enables full inventory visibility and same-day fulfillment options in over a dozen U.S. markets. Switching from a 3PL to co-warehousing gives your ecommerce supply chain the agility it needs.
Use shipping apps like Parsel
With built-in rate shopping and access to local carriers, Parsel can help reduce last-mile shipping costs and increase transparency—crucial when international shipping becomes unpredictable. See how Saltbox member Bamblu uses Parsel for efficient shipping.
Saltbox is here to support you
We know global trade shifts can feel overwhelming—but our job is to help you stay agile and resilient. Whether it’s scaling your fulfillment, exploring sourcing alternatives to China, or building a more responsive logistics operation, Saltbox is here to help your business adapt to the new Trump tariffs.
📍 Need help navigating the new tariff landscape?
Check out our guides on how tariffs work in global trade and 3PL alternatives for small businesses to make informed decisions for your operations.
Related posts
Learn from businesses improving their operational efficiency. Explore how Saltbox’s expert support and flexible spaces drive their growth.
Why Saltbox Torrance is the perfect warehouse solution for businesses beyond ecommerce
Saltbox Torrance blends warehouse, office, and logistics support in one flexible space—perfect for ecommerce, creative pros, and startups needing storage and fulfillment.