Trading between the US and China is difficult right now because of high US-China tariffs. These extra costs make importing goods much more expensive. This is a big problem for industries like swimwear that get products from China. It puts serious pressure on US brands.

The old way many swimwear brands bought goods was: a factory made the product, sold it to a middleman (a trading company), and the middleman sold it to the brand. But with huge US-China tariffs – maybe as high as 145% – this old way costs way too much. The middleman’s price gets hit by the tariff, making the final cost sky-high. This hurts factories (fewer orders) and swimwear brands (crazy high buying costs).
So, what can brands do? Direct sourcing from a China factory is becoming the smart move. For swimwear brands hit by US-China tariffs, buying straight from the factory isn’t just an option – it might be necessary to survive.

Let’s look at the numbers with a big 145% US-China tariff (using a $10 factory price for a swimwear item):

• Old Way (via Trader): Trader charges $20. The tariff is $29 (145% of $20). Total cost for the brand: $49
• New Way (Direct Sourcing): Buy direct from the China factory at $10. The tariff is $14.50 (145% of $10). Total cost for the brand: $24.50.

That’s a huge difference! Direct sourcing can cut the final cost almost in half. The cost is even close to what brands paid before the tariffs when using a trader.

Why is direct sourcing from a China factory so much cheaper? Because the big tariff is based on the lower factory price, not the higher price from the middleman. This shows why finding ways to buy direct is key right now for swimwear brands dealing with US-China tariffs.

Of course, buying direct isn’t always easy. Brands need to handle things like shipping and talking directly with factories. And factories in China need to get good at selling directly to international customers, not just making things.

As a swimsuit manufacturer, YISWIM is currently transforming into an integrated industry and trade enterprise – and we’re now set up to help you buy directly from us. We have a special team to make international trade smooth. Our goal is to be your partner, making direct sourcing easier and helping you save money during these tough times！