In under 30 days, the U.S. government has imposed two separate 10% tariff increases on products manufactured in China—adding another 20% on top of the 25% tariff that was levied in 2018. One of these increases was previously threatened, but the second 10% hike was announced without warning by the president overnight between February 27 and 28 via a post on Truth Social.

This latest development impacts not just us but every company manufacturing in China, leaving businesses scrambling to adjust. Unfortunately, it may not be the last. The president has already floated tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese-manufactured goods, which means even greater pricing pressures could be on the horizon.

When we launched the updated Mk2 v2 range, we set a higher price largely due to inflation, though tariffs had already been a growing burden. We aimed to soften the impact with improved design and features, but absorbing rising costs indefinitely isn’t sustainable. As a result, effective March 16, our prices will increase by 15%, with the possibility of further adjustments if additional tariffs are imposed, as threatened.

Beyond tariffs, we’re also experiencing significant customs delays, with a substantial portion of our inventory stuck in clearance. Certain shipping channels—particularly UPS—are heavily backed up due to rapidly changing tariff policies. If an item you’re looking for is out of stock, this is likely the reason.

Why Not Manufacture in the USA?

A common question we hear when tariffs rise is: “Why not make your products in the U.S.?” The short answer: it’s impossible to source the necessary components domestically.

We could source some materials, like wiring, in the U.S., but the full tariff would still apply to the imported components—which account for most of the cost. And let’s be real: very little display assembly actually happens in the U.S. If you’re using a TV or monitor made after 2005, it’s not American-made. Even if some final assembly is done here, the key components—panels, LEDs, control boards—are all imported.

With trade policies shifting unpredictably, even customs authorities can’t keep up. In some cases, importing components could cost more than importing a finished product. Ironically, in certain situations, manufacturing outside the U.S. provides some protection from volatile trade policies. If the U.S. continues escalating trade conflicts, shifting focus to international markets may put us in a stronger long-term position.

The Road Ahead

We are actively working on ways to bypass the U.S. for international markets in the future (by shipping from a global hub like Singapore or Hong Kong and not sending products to the USA first), but for now, most of our inventory is already US-bound, making these price increases unavoidable.

At some point, businesses, like consumers, simply can’t absorb endless price hikes without breaking. Constant instability, sudden policy shifts, and rising costs across the board make it impossible to operate without adjustments. 

We appreciate your support and understanding during this period of uncertainty. While we expect higher prices to negatively impact our business, they are unfortunately unavoidable. If you're considering a MediaLight product at current prices, we recommend purchasing before March 16, when the increase takes effect.

As always, we’ll keep you updated.

— The MediaLight Team