What You Need to Know About Tariffs and How to Stay Ahead
Elgin, IL | April 25th, 2025
If you’ve been feeling the pressure from changing tariffs, you’re not alone. Across the electronics industry, companies are trying to adapt to new realities—where costs can shift overnight, and importing critical components like displays is more complex than ever.
We get it. At Newhaven Display, we’ve been supporting engineers and sourcing teams for over 20 years—and we’re here to help you navigate these changes with clarity, confidence, and a plan.
Here’s a practical guide to what’s happening now, what it could mean for your projects, and how we can help you stay prepared and protected.
A Quick Look at the Current Tariff Situation
As of early 2025, the U.S. has increased tariffs on a range of Chinese-made goods, including many electronic components. If your products use TFT, OLED, or LCD displays—and especially if they’re custom or integrated with PCBs or touchscreens—these changes are most likely already affecting your cost structure.
These latest actions have led to:
- Widespread tariffs on certain types of display modules
- Additional HTS codes persuant to the corresponding executive actions
- A higher risk of customs delays due to increased enforcement
It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed. But you’re not powerless—and you’re not alone.
How This Could Affect You (and How to Prepare)
Whether you’re in engineering, procurement, or operations, tariff-related disruptions can surface in a few key ways:
- Unexpected Cost Increases: You may see a sudden spike in your landed costs—sometimes by double-digit percentages. This can squeeze margins or force tough pricing decisions.
- Delays in Delivery: Customs reviews are more frequent when products are flagged for reclassification. Even a short delay can impact your timeline, especially in time-sensitive industries.
- Contract Uncertainty: If your supplier contracts don’t address tariffs, you may be left responsible for any new duties that arise.
What You Might Not Be Thinking About (But Should)
There’s a lot to keep track of. Here are a few lesser-known issues we’ve been helping customers address this year:
Design Impacts
Tariffs don’t just hit your budget—they can influence design choices too. If you’re still early in development, talk to us about ways to adjust your display configuration that may reduce exposure, like sourcing components from alternate regions or assembling outside of China.
Budget Buffering
Several of our customers are adding a tariff contingency to their BOM—often 10–15%—to account for potential cost changes before they finalize pricing.
The Importance of Origin
A product might be “engineered,” “built,” or “assembled” in the U.S. but still subject to duties if a substantial transformation of the product occurred or raw materials were sourced from China. We help ensure every shipment includes proper country-of-origin documentation, so you’re prepared if Customs Border Patrol flags a shipment.
Know Your Codes
Tariffs are applied based on HTS codes, so accurate classification is essential. Some of the most relevant codes for displays include:
- 8524.91.9000 – LCD panels
- 8524.92.0000 – OLED displays
- 8534.00.0070 – PCB for assembly of display modules
If your display is customized or includes touchscreen overlays, its classification could shift—so work closely with your customs broker or compliance team.
Common Tariff Myths & Facts
Myth: “If the display is small or low-volume, it's exempt.”
Fact: Size and volume don’t affect tariff status—classification and origin do.
Myth: “Displays are always categorized the same.”
Fact: They can fall under multiple HTS codes depending on how they’re integrated.
Myth: “Our customs broker will catch any errors.”
Fact: You’re ultimately responsible. Work with vendors who understand compliance at the component level.
Action Steps to Protect Your Projects
If you’re feeling uncertain about how tariffs could affect your displays, here’s where you can start:
- Verify your HTS classifications – Make sure your product is being imported under the correct tariff code.
- Request full documentation from suppliers – Including origin and transformation details.
- Review your contracts – Look for tariff-sharing or force majeure clauses.
- Explore non-China sourcing options – Find partners who can offer modules from alternate manufacturing regions.
- Ask about design alternatives – Find partners with engineers who can help your team to identify low-impact ways to reduce risk or cost.
How Newhaven Display Can Help
Our team understands the stress that comes with uncertainty. We’re here to provide straightforward answers, transparent documentation, and tailored support—so you can make confident decisions, even in unpredictable conditions.
- Global flexibility – Our partner network spans multiple regions.
- Design partnership – We collaborate with your engineers to build solutions that meet both technical and trade goals.
- Fast, reliable support – We respond quickly so you’re not stuck waiting on guidance or documentation.
We’ve helped customers across a wide array of industries including, medical, industrial controls, automotive, agriculture, and consumer electronics to manage their display sourcing strategy with minimal disruption—and we can do the same for you.
Let’s Take the Next Step Together
You don’t need to sort this out on your own. Whether you’re mid-project or just starting your design, our team is ready to help you navigate this new tariff environment with clarity and care. We’re not just a source for displays—we’re a partner in helping you build a more resilient supply chain.