The logistics world has always managed volatility — from demand swings to fuel spikes. But in 2025, a new force has reshaped cost structures and disrupted supply chains across industries: tariffs.
Manufacturing Dive reports that ongoing tariff uncertainty has resulted in declining manufacturing activity and dampened business confidence across U.S. producers. Meanwhile, trade data highlighted by The New York Times shows the scale of the policy shift — with duties rising across broad product categories and supplier relationships changing quickly. And as The Wall Street Journal reports, companies such as GE Appliances are already investing in U.S. suppliers as reshoring becomes a necessary hedge against tariff risk.
In short: tariffs are no longer a policy footnote. They’re a landed-cost issue, a network-design issue, and a strategic planning issue.
Tariff activity didn’t arrive as one sweeping policy. It came in waves, each triggering new cost pressures and operational adjustments for importers, manufacturers, and shippers. Here are the most important milestones:
The year opened with broad announcements previewing a structural recalibration of U.S. trade exposure under two key authorities: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. IEEPA allows the President to regulate international trade in response to national security threats, while Section 232 enables tariffs on imports deemed harmful to domestic industries. Under these powers, initial reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports took effect February 4.
Why it matters: Companies began reassessing supplier dependencies, anticipating cost shifts, and preparing contingency plans.
In April, baseline tariffs of roughly 10% on most imports reshaped landed-cost models nearly overnight. On May 2, the U.S. removed de minimis protections for low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong, imposing duties of $25-$200 per item.
Why it matters:
June and July brought higher Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, doubling rates to 50%, while copper derivatives reached 50% by August 1.
Why it matters: These materials feed into nearly every product category — appliances, fixtures, tools, packaging equipment, construction materials — raising costs throughout the supply chain.
By August 29, duty-free thresholds were removed for all countries, not just China/Hong Kong.
Why it matters: Marketplaces, 3PLs, and fulfillment centers began revisiting intake processes, packaging configurations, and consolidation decisions.
On September 16, updated tariff classifications tied to the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement introduced 15% duties on select automotive and electronics categories, avoiding a planned 25% hike. Civil aircraft remained exempt.
Why it matters: Industries with Japanese upstream dependencies — from sensors to semiconductors to specialty components — saw volatility in both cost and lead times.
These shifts reshaped supplier behavior across Asia and North America.
On October 14, Section 232 tariffs added 10% on timber and lumber and 25% on cabinets and furniture, scheduled to rise to 50% for cabinets/vanities and 30% for upholstered furniture in January 2026.
Why it matters: Packaging materials, pallets, and crating became more expensive, adding downstream pressure on warehousing and transport budgets.
By November, NYT and WSJ reporting made the trend unmistakable: reshoring and nearshoring activity accelerated, supply chains realigned, and global growth projections softened. GE Appliances’ $150 million investment in domestic suppliers, reported by WSJ, is one of many signs that companies are redesigning operations to reduce tariff exposure long-term.
Why it matters: Tariffs became a structural cost driver for 2026 and beyond — not a temporary disruption.
Even companies that don’t import directly are affected. Tariffs influence every point in a modern supply chain:
Even if certain tariff policies soften in 2026, both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal note that the economic effects will linger. Reshoring, shifting trade lanes, and supplier relocation will continue to reshape cost structures and logistics flows long after the policies change.
This environment demands scenario planning, agile sourcing, and smarter cross-functional decision-making.
Tariffs are no longer short-term policy shocks — they’re long-term cost drivers. TransImpact's advanced supply chain and parcel analytics tools help you navigate landed-cost volatility, supplier risk, and transportation impacts with clarity.
Planning for 2026? Request a demo and let our team show you exactly how our tools model landed costs, flag risk, and improve decision‑making across your supply chain.