U.S. Tariff Hikes on Chinese Paper Bags.The Trump administration’s renewed tariff policies have delivered a serious blow to Chinese paper bag exporters. In April 2025, the U.S. raised tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports to 125%, escalating trade tensions between the two countries. In retaliation, China imposed 84% tariffs on U.S. goods, further straining bilateral trade relations.
These moves mark a significant escalation in the U.S.-China trade conflict, which now threatens to reduce trade volumes and destabilize the global economy. Chinese paper bag manufacturers, in particular, are feeling the pressure, as the U.S. has been one of their primary export destinations.
In addition to the general tariff increases, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the Department of Commerce recently concluded anti-dumping and countervailing investigations on paper bag imports from China and eight other countries. Their findings revealed that these products were entering the U.S. market at unfairly low prices, causing material injury to domestic producers.
As a result, the U.S. has imposed combined duties of up to 308.13% on imported paper bags from the affected countries, including China. These sky-high tariffs have sharply increased the cost of doing business for Chinese exporters, potentially forcing many companies to raise prices, reduce production, or exit the U.S. market entirely.
Industry analysts warn that Chinese paper bag exporters now face steep challenges, including increased financial pressure and limited access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets. To remain competitive, companies may need to pivot toward alternative markets, upgrade product quality, and seek innovation in sustainable packaging to regain global footing.
