Tariffs have turned where you make things into a central part of the buying decision.

Last year, tariff escalations dramatically changed how buyers read price.

Shoppers went looking for explanations behind rising prices, and often found them in origin labels.

“Made in USA” claims surged across e-commerce listings, not as patriotism theater, but as a way to navigate value trade-offs.

If the price is higher, buyers want to know why … and whether that increase is stable or risky.

Last year we worked with several Canadian clients selling into the U.S. Highlighting domestic and regional manufacturing that mattered for USMCA exemption, AND for buyer reassurance.

We brought “Made in USA” to the forefront for consumer and B2B products selling mostly in the States.

It signaled insulation. No surprise fees or sudden jumps. A reminder that competing products might get more expensive later.

THAT is the real shift.

Origin is not background metadata these days.

It is a behavioral cue. Buyers are assigning premiums and discounts based on perceived exposure to geopolitical pricing pressure.

For product makers, this opens a strategic door. If your sourcing is resilient, say so plainly.

If your costs are transparent, explain them.

If your bill of materials justifies stability, frame it as protection, not price.

And if these things are a challenge, work to lessen the impact. Don’t expect the situation to improve anytime soon.

The world is different now, and mostly not for the better.

So, what are you going to do to succeed in these conditions?

Want to make your product irresistible? That’s what we do as product marketing consultants at Graphos Product, helping innovators turn need-driven ideas into market-ready successes.