2025 US Tariffs on China: Are Your Cheap Fishing Gear Days Over?

Are you ready for some changes in the fishing world? New US tariffs on china are here, and they might just change the way you fish. Or at least the way you buy gear. The United States is putting tariffs in place that are unlike anything we’ve seen before. So, how will these tariffs affect us recreational fishermen? That’s what I’m here to break down for you.

I’ll also talk about how these tariffs will affect the fishing industry in general, why this is happening, and how it might impact American fishing companies. Plus, I’ll share a trick that some Chinese companies might use to get around these tariffs, so they don’t hit your wallet as hard.

Why Should You Listen To Me? More Than Just a Fisherman

Okay, so why should you listen to me? I’m just a fisherman, right? Just some dude on YouTube. Well, I also happen to have my own signature line of fishing rods from Kistler. But before I retired, I worked in corporate leadership, dealing with geopolitical policies and decisions in industry. I know a little bit about how these things work – where to make products and how to compete against countries like China.

But here’s the thing: nobody knows exactly how this will play out. Seriously, I don’t even think the decision-makers know for sure. Think of it like a poker hand. We’re seeing the flop right now. We know the American economy is strong. We’re big consumers, and we have a large trade deficit. In these situations, the country with the deficit often has the stronger position. But we won’t know for sure for four to six months.

I wanted to also be clear that this isn’t about politics. It is about how this will affect anglers like yourself and myself.

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The US Tariffs on China: What We Know For Sure

In the short term, anything coming in from China or Hong Kong will be subject to a fairly high tariff. We’re talking around 34%. But that’s not the whole story.

Let’s say you order something from AliExpress for $100. The 34% tariff would make it $134. But there are also potential processing fees and brokerage fees. Those tariffs could end up being $150, $175, or even over $200, depending on the shipping company. Back in February, when the first round of this happened, FedEx and UPS were pretty aggressive with their rates. I saw some tariff bills that were over $200 for relatively low-priced orders.

Also, the de minimis exemption on orders under $800 is supposed to disappear on May 2nd for China and Hong Kong. I’ve heard that Japan should still be the same. No extra tariffs as long as you’re not spending over $800. Take the new Shimano Aldebaran DC, for example. It’s a $380 reel right now. If I had to pay an extra 24% on that because of the new tariffs on Japan, I don’t think I’d buy it. I think a lot of people will hold off on buying from overseas companies if these US tariffs on China really take hold. Honestly, that’s one of the goals.

Why Are These US Tariffs on China Happening? The Three Main Reasons

So, why are these tariffs being put in place? Here are the three main reasons I keep hearing:

1. Retaliatory Tariffs: The United States has had around a 2.4% to 4% tariff rate on most products globally. China has had a slightly higher tariff rate. These tariffs are a response to that. Even previous tariffs put in place didn’t stop cheap fishing gear from coming from China because of the de minimus exemption. But the days of those super cheap AliExpress and Teemu orders might be over, unless you’re willing to pay the price.
2. Rebuilding the American Economy: The idea is that tariffs can help bring jobs and investment back to the US. There’s supposedly already $7 trillion worth of investment in the US economy since the tariffs were announced. Automobile, tech, and medical companies are saying they’ll have to start building in America. The United States is the largest consumer economy and the largest healthcare economy. We use a ton of drugs and medical devices. Most of those are made overseas. Remember when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico? The healthcare industry was almost crippled because so many products are made there, due to favorable taxes, cheap labor, and inexpensive shipping to the US. There are also security risks to having all of our stuff coming from overseas.
3. Combating the Opioid Epidemic: In the US, many people die from overdoses due to fentanyl and other opioids every single day. The initial tariffs on Mexico and Canada were to secure the border and reduce drug trafficking. Now, the de minimis exemption for China and Hong Kong is being removed so that packages can be inspected for fentanyl.

How This Impacts Retailers and You

How is this going to impact retail stores like Amazon and Walmart? Walmart has already said they won’t accept price increases from their suppliers due to tariffs. The suppliers will have to absorb the costs. That’s the idea – to have the supplier pay to play to get access to the largest market in the world. It’s like a membership fee.

Amazon might see some prices go up, but we don’t know for sure. China has the resources to pay these fees, which is part of their strategy. Of course, China has already said they’ll retaliate with even more tariffs. I don’t want to see a trade war, but we’ll see what happens.

American Fishing Companies: A Silver Lining?

What about American companies? I’m partnered with Kistler Rods, and my signature rod line is made by them in Texas. Since they’re made in America, I think the prices of Kistler rods will probably stay about the same. Shipping is a bigger issue, especially for one-piece rods. But maybe if there’s less traffic from all those small orders from China, shipping capacity will increase, and shipping will become less expensive. That would be a positive for everyone.

I’m also curious to see how this plays out for Bates Fishing. Maybe it’s time for me to try out the Bates Hundo LTS and support an American company. Though their stuff is made overseas, so I’m not sure how it will all work out.

As for lures, maybe we should start buying from smaller American companies like AAFC, HH Customs, Mule Fishing, Moondog Baits, and Creek Life Lure Company. I actually just got an order from Creek Life Lure Company. Look at this little plopper! I can’t wait to try it.

Changing Our Habits: Less Buying, More Fishing

We’ve become a consumer economy, and we’ve sent a ton of wealth and good jobs overseas. Maybe you’re one of the few who are doing great and have plenty of money, but most of us are feeling the pinch. Things are getting more expensive.

This whole tariff situation might shift our buying habits for the better. Maybe we’ll spend less time looking for new stuff to buy and more time fishing.

The “Loophole”: How Companies Might Adapt

There’s a strategy that companies like Teemu and AliExpress could use to avoid passing on the costs of the US tariffs on China and maybe even increase sales in the US market.

One of the biggest problems with AliExpress and Teemu is the long shipping times. But if those companies warehouse their materials here in America, they can pay the tariffs upfront, avoid passing them on to us, and deliver products faster. It’s a win-win situation.

Think of it this way: what if someone offered you $100 million a year, but took $10 million as a management fee? You’d still take the $90 million, right? I think that’s what some of these companies will do. And I think that’s what the president is counting on. I suspect many companies will follow suit.

This is largely a negotiation strategy. The rules are being made up as we go along. That’s why we’re seeing the stock market react and some global panic. Nobody’s ever done this before. When things happen within a set of rules, you can kind of predict what will happen. But when you break the rules, nobody knows what to expect.

I think there’s a plan in place, though. I think they did a test in February, figured out what needed to change, and now they’re putting it in place. We’ll have to wait and see.

I will say this: something had to change. These new US tariffs on China and the world are definitely a change. I’m just wondering how it will all pan out.

Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Go Fishing

Here’s what I do know: most of us probably have enough fishing gear already. So, maybe we just spend less time looking for new stuff and more time fishing. That’s what I’m going to try to do. Any day fishing is better than a day working.

And if you’re new to BFS (Bait Finesse System) and want to get into it, check out some of my other videos. A lot of this stuff is available on Amazon and still inexpensive compared to historical prices. It’s not too late to get started.

Consider reading my article on BFS Reels Overview: Get Started with Bait Finesse Now to learn more about gear options.

I’d also suggest reading 9 Essential BFS Lures for Every Tackle Box to help you better understand what BFS is all about.

Be sure to read more about Winter Bait Finesse Trout Obsession: I Refused To Fail so you can catch some trout this Winter.