{"id":3796,"date":"2025-05-29T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T10:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.rithum.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/rising-tariffs-and-returns\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T16:05:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T16:05:57","slug":"rising-tariffs-and-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rithum.com\/blog\/rising-tariffs-and-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"Tariffs Are Rising. So Are Returns. Here\u2019s How to Stay Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Import costs just got more complicated. On May 2, the U.S. government closed a trade rule that had allowed retailers to bring in goods from China and Hong Kong without paying tariffs. That rule, called the de minimis exemption<\/em>, covered shipments valued under $800. Many of those shipments were faced with <\/span>new tariffs as high as 145%<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Even with a temporary <\/span>90-day rate reduction to 10-30%<\/span><\/a> (depending on shipping carrier), tariffs bring long-term change. Some retaliatory tariffs from China have also been suspended. But this reprieve is temporary, and the tariff structure remains uncertain. Sellers are facing higher costs and longer delivery times, especially if they rely on cross-border fulfillment.<\/span> Retailers that rely on low-cost global supply chains, especially in categories like apparel, electronics, and home goods, are facing higher product costs, slower delivery times, and more complex logistics. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How tariffs impact returns\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Returns already cost retailers an average of $30 each. Factor in delays, added import fees, and common bracketing behavior<\/a>, and those costs climb even higher. Rithum\u2019s 2025 Global Returns & Profit Impact Report<\/em><\/a> highlights two consistent triggers for returns:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n