The Vision Council (TVC) issued an update regarding the upcoming tariff increases scheduled to take effect Aug. 1 following a 90-day extension granted in April. The White House has formally notified several U.S. trading partners about the new duty rates, which vary by country, ranging from 25% to 40% on imports from trade partners across Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa.

China will not be subject to the Aug. 1 implementation but faces a separate tariff increase, reported to be upwards of 55%, set to take effect Aug. 12. The White House has not yet confirmed the final rate.

These measures follow a series of trade policy actions earlier this year:

• In April, President Trump signed an Executive Order imposing global reciprocal tariffs of 10% on all imported goods, with higher rates proposed for select countries.
• A 90-day pause on elevated reciprocal rates was granted for non-retaliating nations, while China’s reciprocal duty was increased to 125%.
• A tariff reduction agreement was later reached between the U.S. and China, lowering duties on both sides to 10%.
• Multiple countries have since entered negotiations with the U.S. to secure trade agreements and avoid higher tariff rates.

With the raevised deadlines approaching, trading partners are expected to continue negotiations to prevent the increases from taking effect. If no new agreements are reached and no further extensions are granted, the higher tariffs will be implemented as scheduled in August.

According to TVC, the tariff increases are anticipated to have wide-ranging implications for optical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, affecting sourcing strategies, pricing structures, and inventory management. TVC shares it is monitoring developments and plans to provide ongoing updates and resources for optical businesses affected by the evolving trade environment, available here.