Hi everyone,

I’m part of a Chinese manufacturing company that has been exporting indoor playground equipment globally for over 15 years — mainly to small business clients like family entertainment centers, kids’ cafés, and franchises.

Just last week, the U.S. tariff on our category jumped from 34% to 104%. One of our American customers said, “There’s no way I can make a profit now.”

I’m not here to promote or sell anything — I’m genuinely looking to understand how U.S. small businesses are adapting to these new tariffs, especially when:

The products are not produced locally in the U.S. at all. Alternatives (e.g., India, Vietnam) don’t offer the same quality or safety certifications. Buyers still need these products for planned launches or seasonal openings.

A few questions I’d love your insight on:

If you were affected by similar tariffs, how did you manage or negotiate around them? Have you worked with suppliers that ship through third countries to reduce the duty impact? How do you communicate such a big cost jump to your customers?

I truly believe this issue affects both sides of the supply chain. I’m here to listen and learn from your experiences — thanks in advance.