In 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has so far implemented tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, which have heavily affected costs across countless industries. While a 25% tariff was imposed on imported goods from Canada and Mexico, a 30% tariff impacts imported Chinese goods, down from a whopping 145% tariff previously imposed in recent months. These increased costs and the uncertainty of future prices have forced many businesses to pivot and do what they can to remain productive and profitable.
How have these tariffs impacted printing? In this article, we’ll take a look at the impact of tariffs on businesses’ printing needs and explore ways to minimize the toll taken by tariffs.
Impacts of Tariffs on Printing
Tariffs put in place by the Trump administration have already had a significant influence on how businesses operate, and the effects will continue into the foreseeable future. Learn about some of the most notable impacts of tariffs on printing below.
1. Increased Supply Costs
Tariffs on imported materials such as toner, ink, and paper have led to a significant rise in supply costs for print operations. These increased expenses directly affect the bottom line for both printing service providers and businesses that rely on in-house printing. Because these products are often sourced internationally, tariffs make maintaining regular operations more expensive, forcing many companies to either pass costs onto customers through price increases or reduce usage to stay within budget.
2. Increased Device and Parts Costs
Print devices and replacement parts, such as fusers, drums, and printheads, are often made in tariff-affected countries like China and Canada. This leads to higher costs when repairs and replacements are needed. This can be especially challenging for businesses with large or aging printer fleets, as maintaining functionality becomes significantly more expensive. In many cases, companies delay upgrades or necessary repairs due to these increased costs, potentially affecting productivity, efficiency, and quality.
3. Supply Chain Disruptions
Tariffs can cause bottlenecks in the supply chain, leading to limited inventory of essential printing supplies and hardware. These disruptions may result in longer wait times for parts or even total unavailability of necessary items. With such an unpredictable industry landscape, these tariffs can complicate planning and operations, especially for businesses that rely on consistent access to printing equipment and materials.
4. Reevaluation of Current Print Infrastructure
With rising costs and supply uncertainties, many organizations have been or will be forced to reevaluate their existing print infrastructure. This means assessing print volumes, evaluating the cost-effectiveness of existing devices, and determining whether a shift to alternatives is necessary. Some businesses may explore managed print services or digital document workflows to decrease the need for in-house printing.
5. Working with Cheaper Manufacturers
To offset the financial burden of tariffs, some companies seek out alternative manufacturers in countries not impacted by the trade policies. While this can offer short-term savings, it also carries potential risks such as quality control issues, inconsistent supply, or challenges with customer support and warranty coverage. Choosing cheaper manufacturers may also require adjustments in device compatibility and maintenance practices, and it can ultimately lead to quality issues without the right product knowledge.
6. Difficulty Upgrading Printers
The increased cost of new printers and multifunction devices due to tariffs can discourage businesses from upgrading outdated equipment. Delaying upgrades may save money initially, but this choice can lead to long-term issues, such as higher energy usage, slower print speeds, or incompatibility with newer software systems. Plus, older printers may require more frequent repairs, which also results in higher costs.
Minimizing the Impact of Tariffs on Your Printing
Tariffs undoubtedly have impacted and will continue to impact countless industries, including print. However, many businesses need high-quality, reliable print solutions, and decreasing their output simply isn’t an option. So what can be done to minimize the impact of tariffs on your business’s print operations?
By using products and services from a trusted print service provider, your business can enjoy benefits that decrease tariff-related issues. GoodSuite is a leading provider of printer and copiers as well as managed print solutions for 25 years, and our services can help your organization keep costs down. We offer the following options to assist with your business’s print needs:
- Managed Print Services: Managed print services, or MPS, outsource the management of your printing to our team of printing professionals. We work with your business to analyze your current print usage, assess where you can save money, and establish a plan that allows you to pay a predictable monthly cost based on pages printed, rather than shelling out for supplies and printing needs. With regular maintenance and upkeep included, you can extend the life of your devices, preventing your business from incurring high costs for new printers, copiers, and scanners.
- Buying and Leasing Options for Printers: GoodSuite offers a comprehensive range of high-quality printers with buying and leasing options. With our trusted printer models, you can ensure your business chooses a trusted device for your operations that also fits your budget. When you buy or lease a GoodSuite device, you can also opt into a service plan from our team of experts, empowering your business to keep your device in top condition for a longer time.
- Choose the Right Equipment: The brand you choose for your equipment impacts how much additional costs you’ll anticipate due to tariffs. For example, Sharp Electronics absorbs some of the additional costs related to tariffs, leading to no increases in cost for ink and toner, and reduced costs on equipment in comparison to other brands. GoodSuite offers a variety of Sharp products for businesses of all sizes. Additionally, not all printers and accessories are manufactured in China, so it’s recommended to do independent research to minimize tariff impact before making the right purchase for your business.
Whether opting for managed print services, which allows you to get all-in-one printing, supplies, and maintenance taken care of for one consistent monthly cost, leasing, which allows you to avoid tariff price hikes while still getting the benefits of new, top-of-the-line devices, or buying, which lets you get the equipment you need before tariff hike up costs, getting ahead of tariffs is the best way to keep your business’ costs down while upgrading efficiency and print quality.
Tackle Your Print Needs Proactively
Although tariffs are causing many businesses to adapt and adjust, your business can confidently step forward and mitigate the negative impacts with trusted products and services and get ahead of raised pricing due to tariffs.
With GoodSuite on your side, your business can enjoy high-quality printers and tailored solutions while keeping your budget in mind. Our predictable, transparent pricing allows your team to meet your needs effectively without any surprises and allows you to get the best equipment for your business before tariffs kick in. Request an assessment online or call us today to learn more about our print options or shop now to take advantage of pre-tariff pricing.
