Key Takeaways

• Tariffs are here for the long-term. Smart educational publishers are planning for them, not reacting to them.
• Onshoring isn’t a silver bullet. U.S. manufacturing lacks the scale and raw materials needed for many school products.
• China remains a cost-effective option, even with 20% tariffs, due to material access and production efficiency.
• Freight expertise matters. Who handles shipping and customs impacts your total landed cost.
• Diversification is only helpful if it’s strategic. Sourcing from other countries often still means buying materials from China.

We’re in the thick of back to school production season, when every choice around sourcing, freight, and inventory has ripple effects. And once again, tariffs are top of mind for educational publishers.

They’re not new. And they’re not going anywhere. The real question isn’t if tariffs will impact your supply chain—it’s how you’re set up to handle them.

With 25 years in educational product sourcing and logistics, I’ve seen how the right preparation turns disruption into manageable strategy. It’s not about avoiding challenges. It’s about understanding how global production really works and planning accordingly.

What Educational Publishers Need to Know About Tariffs

If you're asking, “How do tariffs affect educational products?”—here’s the quick version:

• Tariffs are import taxes placed on certain goods, including some education-related materials from countries like China.
• They fluctuate with trade policy and can hit suddenly.
• The cost impact depends on freight terms, who owns the goods in transit, and whether you’re the importer of record.

The good news? If you understand how freight and duties actually work, you can avoid most surprises.

At Continuum, we’ve been through several tariff cycles without disruption to our educational shipments. That’s because we’ve built expertise in freight logistics, customs compliance, and sourcing strategy. When tariffs shift, we adapt—fast and clean. 

Why Onshoring School Supply Manufacturing Isn’t Always Practical

One question I get from customers a lot is: “Can’t we just manufacture educational products in the U.S. to avoid tariffs?” 

Short answer: not usually. 

Here’s why: 

• The U.S. doesn’t have large-scale manufacturing infrastructure for many educational goods (plush toys, plastic components, hands-on learning aids).
• The raw materials often come from China anyway, even if final assembly is moved to Vietnam, India, or elsewhere.
• Even with a 20% tariff, it’s frequently cheaper to manufacture educational products in China than domestically. 

What you gain by onshoring, you may lose in cost, timeline, and material quality. 

Domestic vs. Overseas Manufacturing for Educational Supplies: What Works Best?

If you’re evaluating where to produce your back-to-school materials, consider: 

 The smart move is to work with sourcing partners who are upfront about these trade-offs—and who know how to route, ship, and declare your product in the most efficient way possible. 

How to Manage Tariff Risk in Educational Publishing

Educational publishers aren’t just content creators anymore, you’re supply chain operators. Here’s what leading teams are doing to stay ahead: 

• Forecasting tariff scenarios and building them into budgets
• Working with experienced freight providers to clarify roles (importer of record, customs brokers, etc.)
• Evaluating real landed cost, not just unit price
• Diversifying suppliers where it makes sense—but avoiding changes that just insert middlemen 

We’ve also seen many publishers get burned chasing “no-tariff” promises—only to find out the materials still come from China. Don’t fall for the shortcut. You need transparency, not tricks. 

Final Word: Why Educational Publishers Need the Right Sourcing Partner for Manipulatives and Ancillaries

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s this: global disruption isn’t the exception—it’s the environment. Tariffs, freight volatility, and raw material constraints are ongoing realities. And for educational publishers producing hands-on materials like manipulatives, ancillaries, and branded merchandise the stakes are even higher. 

That’s where the right supply chain partner makes all the difference. 

Educational manipulatives and ancillaries are essential to today’s classroom experience. But sourcing them—at scale, with consistent quality, and on deadline—isn’t simple. You’re dealing with multi-material SKUs, strict safety requirements, international logistics, and unpredictable tariffs. It’s more than procurement. It’s a precision operation. 

Continuum specializes in sourcing and manufacturing educational manipulatives and ancillary components. We bring together global production capabilities, deep freight expertise, and decades of experience in educational logistics. From molded plastic to plush, from packaging to palletization—we manage the complexity so publishers can focus on delivering value to educators and students. 

Here’s what successful education brands are doing: 

• Partnering with experts who understand how to source manipulatives for educational products
• Building resilient, transparent supply chains that account for tariffs on educational materials
• Streamlining logistics to reduce delays and hidden costs
• Avoiding shortcuts that create quality, compliance, or delivery risks 

If you’re looking to grow your product line or improve operational stability, you don’t need another workaround—you need a partner who can deliver with clarity, scale, and quality. 

Because sourcing educational materials isn’t getting easier. But with the right partner, it can absolutely get smarter. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tariffs and Educational Product Sourcing

1. How do tariffs affect educational publishers? 
   Tariffs increase the cost of importing certain school supplies and educational materials, particularly from countries like China. Publishers must factor these costs into their pricing, forecasting, and supply chain planning. Tariffs are unavoidable, but their impact can be managed with experienced freight partners and sourcing strategies.
2. Can manufacturing school supplies in the U.S. avoid tariffs? 
   Yes, U.S.-based manufacturing can eliminate tariff exposure, but it often comes with higher costs and longer lead times. Many U.S. factories also lack the specialized equipment or access to raw materials needed to produce items like plush, molded plastics, or manipulatives at scale.
3. Is sourcing from Vietnam or India a good alternative to China? 
   Sometimes, but not always. While labor may be cheaper, most raw materials (especially plastics and textiles) still originate in China. That means you may not avoid tariffs entirely, and you could introduce added logistical complexity.
4. Who is responsible for paying tariffs—my company or the vendor? 
   It depends on the freight terms and who is listed as the importer of record. If you manage freight directly, you're likely on the hook for duties. If your supplier handles freight and customs, the cost may be built into your landed price. Clear communication on this is critical to avoid surprises.
5. What’s the best way to plan for tariffs on educational materials?
   • Include tariff scenarios in your cost models
   • Confirm who handles customs and duties (importer of record)
   • Work with partners who understand global sourcing and freight intricacies
   • Don’t assume onshoring or third-country sourcing will eliminate risk
6. Are tariffs on educational products permanent? 
   Tariff policies can change based on trade negotiations and geopolitical shifts. While some are temporary, many have remained in place for years. The best approach is to treat them as a fixed cost and build resilience into your supply chain.