How to Avoid U.S. Tariffs and Manufacture Your Product in America the Smart Way
Meta Description: Learn how to avoid U.S. tariffs and make your product in America with help from a trusted sourcing and design partner like Jackson Hedden.
Tariffs Are Quietly Killing Product Margins
If you're sourcing products from overseas—especially China—you could be bleeding money without even realizing it. Since the implementation of Section 301 tariffs, thousands of imported goods have been hit with up to 25% in additional duties. These costs eat directly into your margins and make once-viable business models unsustainable. Even for founders with tight supply chains, it’s hard to keep up. The reality is this: if you’re not proactively managing tariff exposure, you’re giving away profit.
Why U.S. Tariffs Are So Damaging
The Section 301 tariffs were introduced as part of a trade dispute with China. They affect a huge range of products—from electronics to home goods, tools, and plastics. If your product fits in one of those categories, you’re likely paying extra fees just to land it in the U.S.
The Real Impact:
25% or more in additional import duties
Increased shipping and freight volatility
Customs delays and unpredictable regulatory enforcement
That’s money you could be reinvesting in R&D, marketing, or customer acquisition.
The Smart Move? Domestic U.S. Manufacturing
Avoiding tariffs altogether is simple in theory: make your product in the U.S. But smart brands know it’s not just about dodging fees. U.S. manufacturing offers long-term strategic advantages:
Key Benefits of American Product Sourcing:
No tariffs, no customs headaches
Faster speed-to-market with shorter domestic lead times
Higher customer trust with "Made in USA" on the label
Easier quality control with on-site factory visits and fewer language barriers
Brand differentiation in premium categories
Sure, there’s a cost difference—sometimes 3x the price of overseas production. But here’s the truth: that upfront cost is often offset by better reliability, lower freight costs, fewer defects, and a more nimble supply chain.
But Sourcing in the U.S. Isn’t Easy
Let’s be honest: finding a U.S. manufacturer is hard.
The supply base is fragmented.
Many factories don’t advertise or list online.
Communication and quoting can take weeks.
Most factories are optimized for legacy buyers—not new consumer brands.
And the biggest hurdle? American manufacturing operates completely differently than Chinese manufacturing. The systems, workflows, and expectations are night and day.
That’s why most entrepreneurs and even seasoned brands struggle when they try to go domestic.
Enter the Sourcing Agent + Design Partner: Jackson Hedden
At Jackson Hedden, we do more than design award-winning consumer products—we help our clients source and build them right here in the USA.
We act as a hybrid sourcing agent + product development firm, which gives our clients a powerful edge. Our design and manufacturing team has:
A vetted network of U.S. suppliers in multiple industries
Deep experience with domestic tooling, assembly, and short-run production
End-to-end design, prototyping, and DFM (design for manufacturing)
An intuitive understanding of how to make American production feasible—even at scale
Most startups and even mid-size brands don’t have the tools or sourcing infrastructure to succeed with domestic production. But we do—because we’ve built it into our design process from the ground up.
When you work with Jackson Hedden, you’re not just getting a design firm. You’re getting a partner who knows how to navigate American manufacturing efficiently and effectively.
Real Results, Real ROI
Many of our clients have made the leap to U.S. manufacturing—with stunning results:
One brand eliminated all tariffs and cut lead times by 6 weeks by moving to a U.S.-based assembly partner we sourced.
A premium consumer product company was able to use "Made in USA" as a brand pillar and raise their pricing by 40%, boosting margins despite the higher production cost.
Another startup was able to validate market fit faster by working with our short-run domestic manufacturing partners, going from prototype to first sale in under 90 days.
Our clients succeed because we de-risk the sourcing process—we know where the opportunities are, and we know how to get things made the right way.
Ready to Manufacture Smarter?
If you’re tired of playing defense with tariffs, shipping delays, and inconsistent overseas factories—it’s time to rethink your sourcing strategy.
American manufacturing is possible. You just need the right guide.
Let Jackson Hedden help you make the switch. As a combined industrial design USA firm and sourcing agent USA, we’re uniquely equipped to turn your product vision into a domestic manufacturing success story.
