Beauty Industry Tariffs Post-Trump: XJ’s B2B Manufacturing Workarounds

Navigating the Post-Trump Trade Landscape

As the global beauty industry steps into 2025, sourcing and manufacturing decisions are once again under pressure—not due to pandemic disruptions this time, but due to politics.

The return of Trump-era tariff strategies (and the possibility of them being expanded in 2025) is bringing new challenges to brands sourcing beauty and skincare products from China and other non-U.S. markets. With tariffs on Chinese-made cosmetics and components expected to climb as high as 104%, many brands are asking: What now?

Let’s explore what these policy shifts mean for the industry—and how smart beauty brands are adapting with strategic B2B manufacturing workarounds.

What’s Changing with Beauty Tariffs in 2025?

Following continued enforcement—and potential expansion—of Trump-era trade measures, U.S. customs officials are now applying heavier duties on select imported beauty items, including:

  • Skincare base formulations

  • Makeup tools and applicators

  • Plastic or metal packaging parts

  • Color cosmetics manufactured in China

These higher costs are already impacting indie beauty founders, retailers launching private label, and mid-tier brands trying to maintain margins in a competitive market.

The Real Risk: Rising Costs and Delayed Timelines

For brands still dependent on a single-country model, these tariffs pose more than just financial strain:

  • Production quotes become unstable due to currency + duty fluctuations

  • Landing costs increase by up to 2X for some SKUs

  • Customs clearance slows down, especially for items under tariff review

  • Marketing claims like “Made in USA” or “Eco-sourced” get harder to defend

XJ’s B2B Workarounds: Global Flexibility Built for Change

At XJ BEAUTY, we anticipated this shift. That’s why our B2B beauty development model is built on multi-region flexibility, allowing our clients to stay agile regardless of global trade changes.

🌍 1. Multi-Hub Manufacturing

We operate across China, Korea, Thailand, and the United States, allowing clients to:

  • Reassign production for tariff-sensitive SKUs

  • Balance cost-efficiency (Asia) with compliance and branding needs (USA)

  • Launch fast in different regions to meet seasonal timelines

🔄 2. Split Production & Assembly Models

Some clients now split their process:

  • Formulate and bulk-produce in Asia

  • Final fill, labeling, or assembly in the U.S. (for "Made in USA" or duty-free benefits)

XJ BEAUTY supports both models under one project timeline.

📦 3. Flexible Packaging Sourcing

We help brands avoid packaging import duties by:

  • Offering local packaging supply when tariffs apply

  • Recommending eco-friendly alternatives with lower regulatory burden

  • Supporting mono-material and refillable packaging options that meet EU & U.S. sustainability standards

Future-Proofing Your Beauty Brand in a Post-Trump Trade Era

Tariffs aren’t going away—but the smartest brands will treat them not as roadblocks, but as strategic triggers to diversify and optimize their supply chains.

XJ BEAUTY’s clients benefit from:

  • Responsive global manufacturing (U.S., Thailand, China, Korea)

  • Custom formulation support in tariff-safe regions

  • Full turnkey development that adapts to political and economic change

  • Faster launch cycles and region-specific claims (like “locally made,” “Asia R&D,” or “USA packaging”)

Need Help Re-Routing Your Supply Chain?

📩 Contact us at info@xj-beauty.com
Let’s keep your brand future-proof—no matter what policies come next.

XJ BEAUTY