In May 2025, the U.S. issued a 90-day reduction on tariffs for a wide range of Chinese-made products. It wasn’t a rollback. It wasn’t a resolution. It was a temporary ceasefire in an ongoing trade war that’s shown no signs of ending.
But many buyers have misunderstood this moment.
Instead of preparing, they’ve hit pause.
Instead of diversifying, they’ve gone back to China.
Instead of building resilience, they’re chasing short-term savings.
And in 90 days, when tariffs likely return to 60% or higher, the cost of that inaction will hit hard.
Let’s get something straight:
The United States didn’t lift tariffs—it gave buyers a window. A short, strategic reprieve to catch their breath. What you do with it determines whether you survive the next round of volatility—or get crushed by it.
Because this trade war?
It’s no longer about negotiation. It’s become a tool of political control.
And here’s the punchline:
The brands that use this window to reposition their supply chains will come out stronger. The rest will be left paying 30–60% more per shipment—with no leverage to push back.
Let’s be honest.
China is still the fastest, cheapest, and most plug-and-play country in the world when it comes to sourcing.
Want 15 quotes for a backpack? Alibaba delivers by lunchtime.
Need a mold developed? Done in two weeks.
Switch from plastic to stainless? Factory already has the contacts.
No country comes close—yet.
But that convenience is also a trap.
It makes brands over-reliant. Lazy, even. Because outside of China, things move differently:
This is why the current tariff pause is so critical.
It gives you time to do what diversification actually requires—not just finding factories, but helping them grow into your next main supplier.
We work across Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and China. And we’re seeing a clear divide between buyers who are reacting—and those who are getting ahead.
Here’s what the proactive brands are doing:
Yes, it’s a short-term tactic, but a smart one. By pushing larger orders through China now, they’re creating room to absorb the higher costs later—without getting caught off guard.
They're not abandoning China. They're balancing it. That means supplier identification, visits, audits, and backup plans in Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. Not on paper—on the ground.
They’re not assuming a bag factory in Ho Chi Minh will just “know what to do.” They’re sending in BOMs, tooling, sample reviews, and even cross-factory collaboration to get production to spec.
They’re pushing for enforceable contracts—NNN in China, local jurisdiction in Vietnam and India, and clear IP, tooling, and penalty clauses. No handshake deals. No assumptions.
The fastest way to waste money in Vietnam or India? Try managing it over email from Los Angeles. They’re hiring ground teams—inspectors, project managers, bilingual assistants—to work alongside the factory and keep things moving.
There’s a myth that you can find a new supplier and just “switch.” The reality is, if you’re moving production to Vietnam or India:
That’s what we provide.
Asia Agent gives you an office, a team, and full operational support—without hiring a single full-time staff member. Our monthly packages start at $595/month, giving you real boots on the ground in the hub of your choice.
The factories in Vietnam and India that can handle large volumes with reliability? They’re not sitting around. They’re getting booked by buyers who moved fast—especially as U.S. importers try to rebalance for Q4 and 2026.
The window to lock in good suppliers, good prices, and good capacity is now.
When tariffs snap back:
This isn’t about leaving China. It’s about not depending on it.
The next 90 days are a gift—but only if you use them to build something that lasts.
We help brands diversify, develop, and manage suppliers across Asia with real teams on the ground.
Explore our monthly support options →Your Own Team in Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, or China.