Mexico tariffs: How they affect POD (2025)

Tariffs aren’t just headlines – they directly impact your supply chain, product pricing, and customer satisfaction. In 2025, new Mexico tariffs are reshaping cross-border trade. For print-on-demand (POD) sellers using platforms like Printful, it’s crucial to understand what’s changing and how to adapt.

In this article, we’ll break down how President Trump’s tariffs impact eCommerce businesses, which industries and product categories are most affected, and most importantly – how Printful’s global network helps you stay flexible and protect your profit margins. Let’s dive in.

Key takeaways

• The US announced a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico on February 1, 2025. After a temporary delay for USMCA-compliant goods, the tariffs took full effect on April 2, 2025. That applies only to non-USMCA-compliant imports. Goods that meet USMCA rules of origin remain exempt from these tariffs, provided they meet the agreement's rules of origin requirements.

• These tariffs apply to most product categories, including apparel, raw materials, electronics, and more.

• Printful is not raising prices due to tariffs for now – we’re working behind the scenes to absorb costs and optimize our supply chain.

• Our global network of fulfillment centers helps you stay resilient, even as international trade tensions increase.

Tariffs: What they are and how they work

Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. When a country brings in products from abroad – whether it’s t-shirts, electronics, or car parts – it may charge a fee at the border. That fee is the tariff.

Governments use tariffs for different reasons. Sometimes they aim to support domestic industries by making foreign goods more expensive, with the idea that people and businesses will buy more from local producers instead. Tariffs can also be used to respond to trade practices a country considers unfair, such as artificially low pricing or barriers that limit its own exports. In these cases, tariffs are applied as a form of economic pressure.

Beyond economics, tariffs can serve larger political or strategic purposes. They may be a part of global trade negotiations, used to push for new agreements, or linked to issues like labor standards or environmental concerns. At the same time, tariffs can raise prices for consumers and create tensions between trading partners, which is why they remain a debated tool in global trade policy.

There are different types of tariffs:

• Ad valorem tariffs: Calculated as a percentage of the product’s value. For example, a 25% tariff on a $100 item adds $25 in duties.

• Specific tariffs: A fixed fee is applied per unit, regardless of the product’s price. For instance, a $5 tariff might be charged on every imported t-shirt, whether it costs $10 or $100.

• Retaliatory tariffs: Imposed in response to tariffs set by another country. For example, if one nation raises duties on imports, its trading partner may introduce tariffs of its own. These measures are often linked to trade disputes.

• Reciprocal tariffs: Designed to mirror the trade terms of another country. If a trading partner charges a 20% tariff on US goods, the US might respond with a matching 20% tariff on similar imports. Unlike retaliatory tariffs, which are tied to disputes, reciprocal tariffs aim to establish equal conditions in trade relationships.
  
  

Who pays tariffs?

Technically, tariffs are paid by the importer – often a fulfillment center, distributor, or manufacturer – when goods arrive at the border. But that’s just the first step.

In practice, the extra cost usually moves down the supply chain. Businesses that rely on imported products may see production costs rise, and to stay profitable, many pass those costs on to consumers through higher prices. 

For example, tariffs on metals in one country can affect the cost of vehicles built in another.

So while the government collects the tariff from the importer, the economic impact is often felt by companies and everyday shoppers.

Why they matter

Tariffs can influence how companies operate – affecting where they source materials, how they price their products, and whether certain items remain profitable. For eCommerce and print-on-demand sellers, these changes can happen quickly.

By increasing the cost of imported goods, high tariffs raise production expenses across industries, whether you’re dealing with apparel, electronics, or packaging. This can result in higher prices for consumers and put pressure on profit margins.

While tariffs are meant to protect local industry and encourage domestic production, they can also change supply chains, affect access to key materials, and influence export competitiveness – especially if trading partners implement reciprocal measures. 

These dynamics can escalate quickly between trading nations, creating shifts in the global market. Understanding how tariffs impact your business is essential to staying flexible, profitable, and ready to respond in an ever-shifting global economy.

Tip: Check out more about tariffs and how they may affect your POD business.

Mexico tariffs 2025: What’s changing?

In 2025, the US government introduced new tariffs on imports from Mexico as part of President Donald Trump’s broader trade policy. These changes affect cross-border commerce, including the print-on-demand industry.

Timeline of developments:

• February 1, 2025: President Trump declared the implementation of a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico.
  
  

• February 7, 2025: The White House delayed implementation for 30 days on goods compliant with the USMCA trade agreement.
  
  

• March 4, 2025: The 25% tariff went into effect on non-USMCA-compliant goods from Mexico.
  
  

• April 2, 2025: The USMCA exemption expired, and the 25% tariff was extended to all non-USMCA-compliant imports from Mexico. Goods that meet USMCA rules of origin remain exempt.
  
  

• Late April 2025: The US government reinstated limited exemptions for select automotive and industrial components, including some previously exempted under earlier trade agreements.
  
  

The tariff currently applies to a broad range of products, including:

• Apparel and textiles

• Raw materials (e.g., fabrics, plastics, steel, aluminum, and other metals)

• Electronics and components

• Energy-related goods (no exemptions)

• Pharmaceuticals and related goods

• Vehicles and vehicle parts (USMCA-compliant vehicles may be eligible for tariff exemptions if they meet rules of origin requirements).
  
  

These tariffs are part of a wider reciprocal trade strategy, which also includes:

• A 145% combined tariff on certain Chinese imports (though as of May 12, 2025, many Chinese goods now face 30% tariffs after negotiations).

• A 10% baseline tariff on all imports into the US took effect on April 5, 2025, as part of President Trump's reciprocal tariff regime. These follow earlier tariffs on Canada and Mexico, signaling a more assertive approach to North American trade enforcement.

• Retaliatory tariffs from Canada, effective March 13, 2025, on $29.8 billion worth of US goods, including steel, aluminum, and various consumer products, in response to US tariffs, with additional responses from China and other trading partners. Together, these policy shifts are reshaping supply chains, raising operating costs, and pushing many exporters to rethink sourcing and fulfillment strategies. 

• De minimis status: As of August 29, 2025, the US suspended the $800 de minimis exemption for all countries, including Mexico, China, and Canada. As a result, all low-value commercial imports are now subject to tariffs, regardless of origin. The decision was authorized by presidential executive order.

Print on Demand and Mexico tariffs

So, how do these changes affect your print-on-demand business?

Printful’s global infrastructure and on-demand model give a strong advantage when dealing with international tariffs. But even so, there are important impacts and strategies you should be aware of.

1. Fulfillment costs may rise

Even if your products are printed in the US, the materials behind them – like blank apparel or components – might still be imported from Mexico. With the 25% tariff now in effect, that can lead to increased material costs, production expenses, and, in some cases, higher wholesale prices for certain products.

At Printful, we’re actively working to absorb these added costs where possible and to optimize routing behind the scenes to limit disruptions to your business.

The good news? We’re not raising prices due to tariffs at this time – and if that ever changes, you’ll get plenty of notice so you can plan ahead.

2. Not all products are affected

While some items may be impacted by the new tariffs, many of the products in our catalog are not. Thanks to Printful’s diverse supplier network, a large portion of our best-sellers are either sourced from unaffected regions or produced and shipped within the same country, which helps avoid cross-border tariffs altogether.

If you’re selling to US customers, we recommend prioritizing products fulfilled domestically. It’s one of the simplest ways to keep costs stable and margins protected.

3. Shipping times remain stable

While some companies are experiencing customs delays tied to non-tariff barriers – like stricter inspections, additional paperwork, or processing slowdowns – Printful’s logistics and customs teams are keeping a close eye on the situation.

Thanks to proactive monitoring and smart routing, we don’t expect any major shipping delays at this time. Your orders should continue to move as smoothly as ever.

4. Profit margins may be squeezed

If any of your products are impacted by tariffs, you might face a difficult pricing decision: absorb the added cost, which can eat into your margins, or raise your prices, which may affect customer demand.

We know these choices aren’t easy – especially for small companies. That’s why we’re focused on what we can control: streamlining our supply chain, negotiating with partners, and optimizing routing to help keep your costs – and income – as stable as possible.

5. Supply chain flexibility is your ally

With fulfillment centers across the US, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and more, Printful gives you the flexibility to stay responsive – no matter how trade conditions shift. You don’t need to figure out the logistics yourself – we automatically route orders through the most efficient option.

By fulfilling products closer to your customers, we help you:

• Minimize exposure to tariffs
  
  

• Cut down on long-distance shipping costs
  
  

• Keep delivery times fast and reliable
  
  

If you sell internationally, this regional model is one of the best ways to reduce tariff risks and keep your business running smoothly – even in a changing global landscape.

To summarize

The 2025 Mexico tariffs affect imported goods from Mexico and can create ripple effects for eCommerce and print-on-demand businesses:

• Higher costs for imported blanks or materials

• Potential price hikes for affected products

• Changes in supply chains and uncertain trade conditions
  
  

At Printful, we’re helping you navigate these challenges by:

• Keeping prices stable (for now)

• Absorbing costs where possible

• Fulfilling products locally to minimize exposure to tariffs

• Staying flexible with a global supply network
  
  

Our goal is to provide the tools, transparency, and support you need to stay profitable, regardless of changes in global trade.