How to Avoid the Hidden Costs of China Tariffs in Your Packaging Supply Chain

If your business relies on packaging from China, you may already be feeling the impact:

📈 Rising tariffs

🕒 Long lead times

💸 Unpredictable costs

In 2024, the U.S. reinstated and increased Section 301 tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods—including paper bags, plastic bags, liners, trays, and aluminum containers. That means retailers, food processors, and distributors across the country are paying more… for the same packaging.

But there’s good news: You don’t have to.

At EP Group USA, we help clients reduce cost and risk by sourcing direct from our own global production network—no middlemen, no tariff surprises.

📦 What Products Are Affected?

Recent tariff actions have hit packaging products like:

• Twisted Handle and SOS Paper Bags

• Plastic T-Shirt and Reusable Bags

• Produce Bags, Liners, and Sleeves

• Compostable and Biodegradable Films

• Aluminum Food Trays and Foil Containers

If you’re buying any of the above from China, your packaging costs may have risen 10–25% due to duties alone—not to mention freight delays and quality issues.

🏭 EP Group: A Smarter, Tariff-Free Alternative

At EP Group, we’ve been manufacturing packaging for over 50 years. Unlike many U.S. suppliers who source through brokers or importers, we own and operate facilities around the world, including:

🌍 Malaysia – Compostable films, flexible plastics

🇦🇪 UAE – Paper bag production

🇬🇧 UK – Aluminum tray and foil production

🇪🇺 France, Italy, Spain – Storage & supply hubs

🇺🇸 USA – Support, logistics, and local distribution

By shipping direct from our own sites and avoiding Chinese origin, we help our U.S. clients:

✅ Avoid tariffs entirely

✅ Stabilize pricing and lead times

✅ Customize packaging to spec

✅ Source sustainable, award-winning solutions

Real Cost Savings, Not Just Lower Unit Prices

Many companies compare unit pricing—but fail to factor in:

• 📦 Tariff costs (10–25%)

• 🛳️ Port delays and detention fees

• 📉 Quality-related product loss or rework

• 🔁 Rush orders due to unreliable supply

Switching to a partner with end-to-end production control and tariff-advantaged sourcing can create double-digit savings without compromising quality.

Let’s Compare Specs

If you’re currently sourcing packaging from China—or just want to explore lower-risk options—we’d be happy to:

🔍 Review your current specs

📊 Prepare a side-by-side cost analysis

📦 Recommend faster, tariff-free alternatives

Don’t let unpredictable tariffs eat into your margins. Let’s design a smarter packaging strategy—together.

EP Group is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of paper, plastic, and aluminum packaging. With global production and U.S.-based support, we deliver smarter, more sustainable solutions to some of the biggest names in retail and foodservice.