25% Tariff to Impact Chinese 3D Printing Filament?

Originally published by  Joris Peels at 3dprint.com

Will a 25% Tariff on Chinese 3D Printing Filament Affect 3D Printing?

Tariffs may be put on 3D printing filament, according to Hackaday. They looked at the Tariff List of the Second Tranche of Tariffs that will be implemented by the US August 23rd and concluded that filament coming from China would be subject to a 25% tariff.

The tariff schedule states that “Monafilament nesoi, of plastics, excluding ethylene, vinyl chloride and acrylic polymers” where nesoi means Not Elsewhere Specified or Indicated. Furthermore, tariffs on ABS and other plastic resins could make the raw material that goes into filament more expensive in some cases. “Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, in primary forms” is another line item as is “Polyamide-6, -11, -12, -6,6, -6,9, -6,10 or -6,12 in primary form.” The new US tariffs will indeed have repercussions on many businesses but will there be effects for 3D printing?

The author thinks that the effects on the industry as a whole will be minimal but this could hurt Chinese vendors of  filament. The reasons given are as below:

• Most 3D printed things are small, so will be the effects.
• Few people buying filament care about price.
• The Spread is already way bigger than this increase.
• Filament cost is but a small cost component compared to labor.
• Collective Shrug.
• If companies have volume and expertise they can easily set up shop elsewhere.
• For 25% those who do can switch to US or European filament.
• This tariff is likely to affect only some players disproportionately.

Details at: https://3dprint.com/