Promo Insiders: What’s the Latest With Tariffs?
ASI Media’s Sara Lavenduski and Tara Lerman talk about the current situation with the levies and how trade relations with the U.S. have shifted in recent months.
Nearly a year into the tumultuous tariffs news cycle, the uncertainty continues.
From the Greenland debate to a long-awaited Supreme Court ruling on the legality of President Trump’s tariffs, to changing trade relationships with Mexico and Canada, there’s no lack of tariff fronts to watch closely.
“It’s not a question of will tariffs end [if the Supreme Court rules they’re not legal],” said ASI Media’s Tara Lerman on a recent Promo Insiders podcast episode with colleague Sara Lavenduski. “It’s what’s going to happen after that. The ruling will at least give us a step forward and show businesses how they can move forward. But right now it’s unfortunately a waiting game.”
This summer also marks the first scheduled review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the revamped North American Free Trade Agreement implemented in 2020 during Trump’s first term. Six years later, trade relations between the three countries have been strained. Recently, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian goods entering the country as Prime Minister Mark Carney has been holding negotiations with China to determine how they can work more closely together for their mutual benefit.
“Carney has said Canada can’t rely on the United States anymore,” said Lavenduski. “So, they’re going to be looking at other countries like China to partner in different areas. And one of them could be trade, but they’ve denied there’s an official trade agreement. … We’ll see how things shake out in the coming months.”
The latest tariff news comes as new data from ASI Research’s Distributor Quarterly Sales Survey shows that the promo industry gained $1 billion last year, hitting a record high of $27.7 billion in sales. However, the data also shows that 88% of distributors raised prices in 2025, ostensibly to account for tariff price hikes and an overall rise in the cost of importing.
Key Takeaways
• According to new data from ASI Research, the promotional products industry reached $27.7 billion in 2025, up $1 billion year over year, mostly due to rising costs and ongoing tariff-related uncertainty.
• Ongoing tariff threats, walk-backs and social media announcements make it difficult for businesses to plan, creating a “wait-and-see” environment across the industry.
• The Supreme Court is reviewing whether Trump-era tariffs are legal under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Even if ruled on, experts say tariffs are likely to continue through other legal mechanisms.
• Mexico has imposed tariffs on Chinese and other Asian imports, reducing its role as a tariff “back door” and complicating supply chain strategies for U.S. businesses.
• The upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement review this summer is a major inflection point that could redefine trade rules and sourcing strategies across the continent.
• Tensions between the U.S. and Canada – amid leadership changes and China-related trade concerns – are adding uncertainty for North American promo companies, even as demand remains cautiously optimistic.