How to Source from China Without Letting Tariffs Wreck Your Bottom Line
As global trade becomes more fluid due to current events, many U.S. businesses are asking: “How can I import from overseas while keeping costs low—especially with tariffs still in play?”
At Global Trade Specialists, we specialize in helping businesses import products from China efficiently, affordably, and with clarity. Whether you’re new to importing or scaling up your supply chain, understanding how tariffs affect your bottom line is key.
What Are Tariffs and Why Do They Matter?
A tariff is a tax placed on imported goods by a country’s government. In the U.S., Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports remain active and impact a wide range of product categories—from electronics to consumer goods, industrial components, agricultural products.
Currently, and this has changed several times this year alone, most tariffs are subject to a 30% tariff on Chinese goods, though some are higher depending on the product classification.
Tariffs directly increase your landed cost — the final price of your goods once they’ve arrived at your location. Without a clear strategy, these added costs can erode your margins and limit your competitiveness.
Understanding Your Import Options
Depending on your experience, order size, and risk tolerance, here are the three main options companies use to get their products.
Buy from U.S.-Based Distributors
These are best for small or very urgent orders. With domestic manufacturing, you can avoid tariffs and have quicker turnaround times with much faster shipping speeds.
However, your unit costs will be substantially higher, anywhere from 3-10x more expensive.
Customizing products is also more difficult, as there are fewer companies willing and able to help and those that do exist typically are very selective with the clients you take.
We have tried to get quotes from United States companies several times and for some reason, most U.S. manufacturers are very unresponsive. It’s almost like you have to sell them on taking your business rather than the other way around as it should be.
Direct Import from Factory
You can try to import on your own but that can be extremely intensive, and every mistake can be very costly.
Unless you are experienced in importing and are willing to deal with differing time zones and learn cultures and sometimes even languages, this option will likely not be for you.
You’ll usually not know who you are dealing with and if you choose the wrong factory, shipper, customs broker, or distributor you could end up losing tens of thousands of dollars in lost product or fines from the government from improperly imported products.
It’ll be up to you to figure out what certifications your product needs from the government.
- Pros: Full control of production, cost, and shipping
- Cons: You manage supplier selection, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and tariffs yourself. Mistakes here can be costly.
Import Through a Sourcing Company
The third option is to use a sourcing company for your needs. A good sourcing company will walk you through the process and exponentially raise your chances of success by getting you the best deal on your product through verified factories.
We take the headache out of sourcing and manage your freight, customs, and tariff strategy.
Some of the other ways we help our customers includes staying ahead of trade regulations by:
- Correctly classifying products to reduce or avoid tariff exposure
- Sourcing only from trusted, established Chinese factories
- Consolidating shipments when possible to reduce freight and port costs
- Partnering with experienced customs brokers to ensure smooth clearance
Whether you’re importing private label products or developing a custom design, we ensure you get high-quality manufacturing at the lowest possible total cost.
Ready to Start Sourcing Smarter?
If you’re looking to import from China while staying competitive in a tariff-heavy market, we can help. Global Trade Specialists will guide you through the process—from factory sourcing and pricing negotiation to freight coordination and customs clearance.
Contact us or give us a call to discuss your options and develop a strategy for importing your products.