Recently, the United States has significantly increased tariffs on imported products from China. In response, some clients have started asking whether it would be better to shift manufacturing to the U.S. in order to avoid high import duties. However, avoiding tariffs does not automatically mean reducing overall costs. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at why U.S. manufacturing may not be the most cost-effective choice, especially under the current tariff climate, and why Chinese production still offers better cost-efficiency and supply chain advantages.
At first glance, making pickleball paddles in the U.S. seems like an easy way to bypass tariffs. But in reality, the baseline cost of U.S. manufacturing is already very high. Even without considering tariffs, the cost of producing paddles in the U.S. remains significantly higher than in China. The main reasons are as follows:
Labor costs in the U.S. are among the highest in the world. Manufacturing workers earn wages that are several times higher than their counterparts in China. Running a production facility in the U.S. requires paying high salaries, benefits, and insurance. For a labor-intensive product like pickleball paddles, these labor expenses can drastically raise the per-unit cost. Additionally, the U.S. has strict labor laws, requiring investment in training and compliance, which further increases the overall manufacturing expense.
Core materials for pickleball paddles—such as carbon fiber surfaces, polymer honeycomb cores, and resins—are all more expensive to source in the U.S. Since the local supply chain is still underdeveloped, many components and materials must be imported, adding further costs, and potentially triggering tariffs and shipping fees.
For example, many types of carbon fiber fabric and cores are produced in China. U.S.-based factories often need to buy them at a premium price. In contrast, Chinese manufacturers benefit from mature industrial clusters where such materials are readily available at competitive prices. The U.S. lacks a full supply ecosystem for paddle-related accessories like grip tape and edge guards, which limits sourcing options and makes cost control difficult.
This disadvantage in materials and accessories makes it hard for U.S.-based production to compete with Chinese manufacturing on cost.
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Pickleball paddle manufacturing is a niche industry. Currently, there are few large-scale professional factories in the U.S. Because of this, it's difficult to benefit from economies of scale. If order volumes grow, U.S. factories may not be able to expand quickly enough. In small-scale production, fixed costs—such as factory depreciation and administrative expenses—must be distributed over fewer units, pushing the unit price higher.
By comparison, China has well-developed industrial clusters and abundant skilled labor, enabling large-volume production and better cost control. For a U.S. factory to reach this level would require heavy capital investment and a long build-up period—which is hard to achieve in today’s tariff climate.
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Since U.S. manufacturing already has high costs, even when import tariffs are applied to Chinese products, the total price of overseas production is still more competitive—making it the best overall value.
Tariffs do increase costs, but they’re often not enough to cancel out the savings from China's lower labor and material costs. Even with tariffs included, paddles made in China usually cost less than those produced domestically in the U.S. Furthermore, Chinese factories often optimize production and source materials locally to absorb some of the tariff burden—maintaining a competitive edge.
It’s also worth mentioning that tariffs are only one part of the total landed cost. A smart sourcing decision needs to consider material prices, labor productivity, equipment depreciation, and quality control. Thanks to China’s well-developed supply chain, the final price—including tariffs—can still be significantly lower than domestic U.S. production.
This is exactly why many well-known brands continue sourcing from China. The math still works in their favor.
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Some well-prepared brands are increasing their orders at this very moment—because this is a golden opportunity to seize more market share. While your competitors are still hesitating, you could be building inventory and moving ahead.
Beyond pricing, Chinese suppliers like iAcesport provide unmatched advantages in supply chain coordination and delivery timelines. A mature supply chain—from raw materials to final assembly—means your business benefits from consistent, efficient service across every stage:
In short, Chinese suppliers like us help reduce your risk while ensuring consistent quality and dependable delivery.
In today’s fast-changing market, product flexibility is key to success. Chinese factories, especially ours, are highly adaptable to the needs of smaller brands and multi-SKU strategies:
With low MOQs and high customization, we empower your brand to experiment, differentiate, and expand—something that U.S. factories simply can’t offer.
Importing from overseas can feel complicated, but we make it simple. Our experienced logistics team provides full support, from factory floor to your warehouse:
Thanks to this one-stop logistics and customs solution, you can enjoy cost-effective global manufacturing without worrying about complexity. We take care of the details so you can focus on your business.
In conclusion, switching to U.S. domestic manufacturing may sound like a solution to avoid tariffs—but in reality, high labor costs and weak supply chains make it hard to truly save money. In contrast, Chinese production—even with tariffs—is still more cost-effective.
In today’s uncertain trade environment, the smartest strategy is to partner with a trusted overseas manufacturer who knows the process, manages risk, and delivers consistent results. That’s what we do at iAcesport.
We’ve helped thousands of brands worldwide scale their production, lower costs, and launch with confidence. If you’re currently unsure how to proceed, we’re happy to help. Contact our team to explore a tailored manufacturing solution—one that fits your goals, controls your budget, and keeps you ahead of the competition.
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CHIKOROKO is a professional pickleball paddle manufacturer with over 8 years of experiences in producing high-quality pickleball paddles for many brands. Specializing in both hot-press and cold-press manufacturing processes, we offer a wide range of customizable options for our clients. With more than 100 sets of molds available, we provide the flexibility to create custom pickleball paddles tailored to specific needs, from design to performance...[ Read More >>]
