Trump’s trade war fuels reuse, reshoring and jobs.
President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs have rattled global markets – but they could spark a remanufacturing revival across the office imaging sector.
With a 10% tariff on all US imports and a 34% hit on Chinese goods, the cost of importing OEM and new-build cartridges has surged. For American remanufacturers, it’s a potential game-changer.
“Remanufacturing lets you avoid the tariffs, shorten supply chains, and create skilled local jobs,” one US operator told The Recycler. “It’s a chance to build back smarter.”
Reuse also delivers flexibility. Locally collected empties mean no reliance on overseas freight or vulnerable international suppliers. In an unstable trade climate, that matters more than ever.
Europe remanufacruring isn’t directly hit by the tariffs – but could still feel the shockwaves. Some fear an influx of redirected stock from Asia. Others argue the EU must seize the moment to invest in circular infrastructure.
“If the US is moving to reshoring, Europe needs to match it,” said one EU remanufacturer. “Reuse brings control, compliance – and jobs.”
Beyond tariffs, wider risks are growing. China holds hundreds of billions in US Treasury bonds. A retaliatory sell-off could hammer the dollar and unleash a new wave of global disruption. “By the time you read this, it may already have changed again,” one analyst warned.
In this fast-moving climate, one thing is clear: reuse and remanufacturing offer a stable, sustainable alternative – and a way to futureproof the industry against whatever comes next.
