Supplements & Politics: How Tariffs & Trade Wars Affect Your Vitamins

Jun 3, 2025 Talib Ahmad Supplement Expert 254 Views

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Do you ever think about international politics when you pop your daily multivitamin? Probably not. After all, what could a trade war between nations have to do with the vitamin C or protein powder in your pantry? Surprise! Global tariffs, trade skirmishes, and supplement politics can directly impact the cost and availability of your favorite supplements. No, your multivitamin isn’t running for office – but it is caught in the crossfire of international trade battles. In this blog, we’ll discuss supplements and politics and how tariffs and trade wars have been shaking up the supplement world, what the industry is doing about it, and what it all means for you as the consumer.

Let’s dive in with a quick recap of the tariff drama and why it’s giving supplement companies—and possibly your wallet—some serious heartburn.

Caught in the Crossfire: Supplements & Politics

Trade wars aren’t just headlines for economists; they have real consequences for everyday products, including vitamins and supplements. Back in 2018, the U.S. kicked off a major tariff showdown with China, slapping 25% tariffs on approximately $250 billion worth of Chinese imports. (1,2)

As a lot of supplement ingredients come from China, they ended up on the tariff list. This included herbal extracts, amino acids, vitamins – things that might be in your pre-workout or multivitamin. In fact, the American Herbal Products Association noted that many staples of the supplement world (like ginseng, green tea extract, pepper, ginger, and more) suddenly got hit with import taxes. (3)

China didn’t sit quietly either – they hit back with tariffs on $110 billion of U.S. goods, which included American-made supplements heading to Chinese consumers. It was a classic trade-war tit-for-tat, and dietary supplements were caught in the melee. As one industry insider put it, this was a “highly politicized staring contest,” and the nutrition sector “got caught up in a large net” of tariffs impacting industries from electronics to pet food. (1,2)

For supplement manufacturers, this was an oh-oh moment. Many rely on China’s well-developed supply chain for raw materials, from botanicals to vitamin precursors. Suddenly, those inputs were more expensive and less confident. Some botanical ingredients don’t have easy substitutes outside China. The result? Higher costs and a lot of uncertainty. Companies had to worry about price hikes and possible delays or shortages if trade tensions escalated. In short, the supplement industry found itself an unlikely casualty of a geopolitical trade battle.†

Why Your Vitamins Got More Expensive:

Tariffs are essentially taxes on imports. When supplement companies have to pay more to import an ingredient, that cost inevitably trickles down to you, the consumer. You might have noticed some of your go-to products creeping up in price over the last few years – tariffs have likely played a part in that. How big is the impact?

Consider this eye-opener: one U.S. supplement manufacturer estimated that a tariff on Chinese Ginkgo biloba (a popular herbal ingredient) would increase their costs by $1 million for that ingredient alone. And that’s just one herb. Multiply similar scenarios across various vitamins and herbs (from ashwagandha to zinc), and it’s clear tariffs can add millions in extra costs industry-wide. (2)

Those added costs often lead to “sticker shock” on the shelves. Brands either raise prices to compensate or reformulate products to use cheaper (sometimes lower-quality) ingredients. Neither is a great option for us supplement enthusiasts. And it’s not just about prices – availability became a concern too. Some smaller companies, facing steeper import costs or delays at customs, started running low on stock of certain products during the peak of the trade tensions.†

There was even a ripple effect into the broader healthcare space: at one point, pharmacists began stockpiling common generic drugs to hedge against potential tariff-induced shortages. (4) If pharmacists are hoarding medicines due to tariff fears, you can bet supplement makers were nervously stocking up on key ingredients as well. It’s a bit like storm prepping – but instead of bread and milk, it’s vitamin C and magnesium.†

Industry Response To Tariffs:

The supplement industry didn’t just throw up its hands and surrender to higher costs. Instead, companies and trade organizations mobilized to fight back and adapt. Here’s how the supplement world has been responding to the tariff turmoil:

Pleading the Case to Policymakers: Industry groups quickly started lobbying the government for relief. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), for example, formally urged U.S. officials to exempt dietary supplements from new tariffs being considered. Their argument? Taxing imported ingredients or finished supplements would hurt consumers’ health (and wallets) without achieving the tariffs’ intended goals. Other trade groups like the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) echoed these concerns, warning that tariffs on supplement ingredients could have unintended consequences, like making vital health products more expensive or scarce for the public. (5,6)
Diversifying Supply Chains: Many supplement companies took a hard look at where their ingredients come from. With so many eggs in the “China basket,” tariffs were a wake-up call to spread out the risk. Manufacturers began seeking alternative suppliers in other countries or sourcing different ingredients not subject to tariffs.†
Made-in-USA Innovation: Another strategy has been to bring production closer to home. If importing vitamin ingredients is getting pricier and riskier, why not make more of them in America? In fact, voices in the industry have been encouraging the U.S. to invest in its own vitamin manufacturing capabilities.†
Bracing and Buffering: In addition to long-term changes, supplement businesses also took short-term measures to ride out the storm. Larger companies can absorb costs for a while or buy ingredients in bulk before tariffs kick in. Others tweaked their product formulas to use more tariff-free components, at least temporarily.†
Temporary Relief and Ongoing Talks: There have been a few glimmers of hope amidst the trade turmoil. Trade negotiations between the U.S. and China have been on-again, off-again, but every now and then, they yield a ceasefire of sorts. For instance, both countries agreed to a 90-day pause on escalating tariffs at one point. More recently (as of May 2025), officials from Washington and Beijing even sat down for new talks in Geneva, signaling a possible thaw in tensions. And let’s not forget the partial rollback where the U.S. and China cut some tariffs for a 90-day period. (7,8)

Through it all, the overarching strategy for the supplement world has been adapt, adapt, adapt. From lobbying in D.C. to tweaking sourcing and production, the goal is to ensure that you can still get your fish oil, protein powder, or vitamin D without breaking the bank.

Where To Buy?

Looking to stock up on your go-to supplements—or try something new? From multivitamins and protein powders to adaptogens, amino acids, and greens, you can find a wide range of trusted brands at SameDaySupplements.com—all ready to ship fast.

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Wrapping Up!

It may seem wild that something as arcane as a tariff could affect the bottle of vitamin B12 on your kitchen counter, but that’s the reality of our interconnected world. Supplements and politics make strange bedfellows, yet as we’ve seen, decisions made in trade offices and political arenas ripple right down to the health products we use every day. The good news is that the supplement industry is actively fighting to keep your vitamins and protein powders accessible. Companies are innovating, and advocacy groups are speaking up. And while the political winds can change quickly, there’s growing awareness that health products deserve special consideration.†

Thank you for reading! And as always, if there was something that wasn’t clear, another question you might have, or if you have another idea for a blog, Email Us!

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Disclaimer:

†Please note the intention of the information provided is for reference only. This article is for informational purposes, blending anecdotal insights with referenced facts. While we aim to maintain and display accurate information, we can’t guarantee it represents the latest information. We’ve cited sources and industry reports to keep things accurate, but remember that trade situations can evolve. Always stay updated with the latest news on supplements and politics. Furthermore, we are in no way providing medical advice or instruction. Also, the information above does not represent our views here at Same Day Supplements. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. Finally, these products aim not to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease or illness.