Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Return in 2025, These 4 Supply Chain Strategies Can Help Cross-Border Sellers Turn Crisis Into Opportunity

In 2025, the Trump administration once again announced a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum and eliminated previous exemptions, posing a significant challenge to importers in the U.S. market. This is not only a continuation of the 2018 steel and aluminum tariff policy, but also a major blow to those companies that rely on steel and aluminum materials for their products.

In particular, cross-border e-commerce sellers in the energy, automotive, construction and furniture industries are facing unprecedented challenges. So, as a cross-border seller in Taiwan, how can we respond to such policy changes in advance and minimize the impact of tariffs?

Let's look at a real case. Mr. Lee is a Taiwan-based furniture manufacturer specializing in high-end office furniture for the US market. They have an office desk with a high-quality wood top and four metal legs. The design of this furniture is simple and meets the needs of modern office space, which is very popular among American consumers.

However, the Trump administration's steel and aluminum tariff policy suddenly hit his business hard. Under the new policy, a tariff of up to 25% will be levied on imported products containing steel or aluminum according to the steel and aluminum content of the product. For example, Mr. Lee's desk weighs 100 kilograms, of which 40 kilograms are made of metal, which will directly affect the competitiveness and profitability of the product.

In the face of such challenges, Mr. Li has formulated four major coping strategies, which are important references for all cross-border seafaring sellers:

1. Prepare documents in advance: Prepare detailed material schedules and production process certificates, clearly listing the material composition of each part of the product and emphasizing the separation of different materials in the production process, to speed up customs clearance and reduce the risk of delay.
2. Adjustment of commodities to control costs: Consider replacing the steel and aluminum of some table legs with other metal materials, or adjusting the steel and aluminum content in coordination with suppliers to reduce the tariff burden and protect profit margins.
3. Branding and added value: Strengthen branding and add more intelligent features to products, such as built-in charging ports, desktop height adjustment, or ergonomic design, to enhance the added value of products.
4. Expanding into other countries: Expanding into Europe and Asia reduces reliance on a single U.S. market, diversifies risk and expands market share.

What's most striking is that these strategies not only help cope with tariff pressure, but also give cross-border sellers a long-term competitive advantage in the market. For every importer and cross-border e-commerce seller, preparing in advance and responding flexibly to tariff changes will be the key to maintaining competitiveness and stable development.

Let's keep in touch! Join Green Circle LINE for more cross-border e-commerce tax and logistics solutions:https://line.me/ti/p/g2Vc38nLnR

# Steel and Aluminum Tariff 2025 # Cross-border E-commerce # Supply Chain Strategy # Taiwan Manufacturers # Tariff Response # Product Optimization # Market Diversification # Branding # Cross-border Going to Sea # Amazon Sellers