Tariff & Global Materials Adjustment
Protecting Our Customers. Supporting Our Country.
At Custom Armor Group, we are proud to offer a wide range of Made in the USA protective solutions. We remain fully committed to expanding domestic manufacturing and sourcing wherever possible.
However, in certain cases where foreign-sourced raw materials, components, or finished goods are used, we face significant and unpredictable costs due to U.S. tariffs, global shipping disruptions, and supply chain volatility.
To address these challenges with full transparency, we have implemented a temporary Global Materials Surcharge on select products.
Our Commitment to Pricing Stability
All applicable surcharges are clearly quoted and agreed upon at the time of pricing. Once a quote is accepted or an order is confirmed, we will not apply any additional increases—regardless of changes in tariffs or material costs.
- Quotes are valid for 10 days
- Once booked, pricing and surcharges will not change
- If costs rise after the fact, Custom Armor Group will honor the original pricing—even if we take a loss
This policy is built on trust and reflects our commitment to our partners in law enforcement, defense, and public safety.
What Products Are Impacted?
🇺🇸 Domestically Manufactured Products (with foreign inputs)
Even U.S.-assembled products may include imported materials that are now affected by tariffs:
- Ballistic plate carriers using imported fabrics or buckles
- Helmets using international shell materials
- Shields or vests containing foreign ballistic panels or steel
Fully Foreign-Sourced Products
Items imported from high-tariff or high-volatility regions such as China, Eastern Europe, or Southeast Asia are subject to significant cost increases driven by:
- Section 301 tariffs and trade enforcement
- Global supply chain instability
- Raw material shortages and shipping delays
Our Position: Shared Burden, Strategic Response
We are absorbing the majority of increased costs internally, and only applying surcharges where absolutely necessary—with all adjustments displayed as a separate line item on quotes, sales orders, and invoices.
This surcharge is temporary, reviewed regularly, and adjusted based on evolving market and supply conditions.
We remain deeply supportive of U.S. manufacturing, American trade leadership, and our national security goals—including recent efforts under the Trump Administration to protect and stabilize U.S. supply chains.
View the Current Tariff & Surcharge Schedule
The following table outlines product categories, applicable surcharge ranges, and notes on regional cost factors. Not all products are subject to surcharges, and these only apply when foreign-sourced inputs are present.
See below Table.
Product Category | Region of Origin | Tariff Driver | Surcharge (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Armor Panels | USA (w/ foreign inputs) | Imported aramid/UHMWPE fiber pricing | 10% – 30% | Applies to U.S.-made panels using non-domestic ballistic fibers. |
| Hard Armor Plates (Ceramic) | China / Asia | Section 301 tariffs, material volatility | 20% – 50% | Applies to ceramic plates from impacted regions. |
| Hard Armor Plates (Non-Ceramic) | China / Asia | Section 301 tariffs, material volatility | 20% – 50% | Applies to polymer, composite, or hybrid plates from impacted regions. |
| Hard Armor Plates (Steel) | China / Asia | Section 301 tariffs, material volatility | 20% – 50% | Applies to steel plates from impacted regions. |
| Plate Carriers & Tactical Nylon | USA / Foreign blended | Imported webbing, buckles, thread | 30% – 60% | Primarily affects components not produced domestically. |
| Helmets (Ballistic) | South Korea | Export restrictions, raw material cost | 5% – 25% | CAG is absorbing most costs; minimal surcharge applied selectively. |
| Shields (Ballistic) | Europe / Asia | Raw material cost (poly & steel imports) | 5% – 25% | Depends on material blend and country of manufacture. |
| Gloves, Boots, Accessories | Asia | Broad tariff categories, shipping surges | 30% – 75% | Applies only to fully imported finished goods. |
Important Note on Surcharge Applicability
Not all Custom Armor Group products are subject to these surcharges.
The categories listed above reflect potential applicability only. A surcharge will only apply when a product includes foreign-sourced raw materials, components, or finished goods.
All applicable surcharges are clearly communicated at the time of pricing.
- If no surcharge is listed on your quote or order confirmation, none will be added later.
- We are committed to full transparency up front. Once pricing is agreed upon, it is locked in—no changes, no surprises.
This approach allows us to maintain trust, pricing consistency, and fairness across our customer network.
Latest Tariff & Supply Chain News
FAQs
The Global Materials Surcharge is a temporary adjustment applied to select products that are impacted by increased costs tied to foreign-sourced raw materials, components, or finished goods. These costs stem from recent tariff increases, global supply chain disruptions, and material shortages.
This surcharge appears as a separate line item on quotes, sales orders, and invoices—so you can see exactly where and how costs are affected.
No. Many of our products are 100% Made in the USA using domestically sourced materials and are not affected by these surcharges.Surcharges only apply to:
- - Products that rely on imported ballistic materials, fabrics, webbing, buckles, or steel
- - Products that are fully imported or assembled abroad using foreign-origin inputsIf your quote does not show a surcharge, then none applies.
No. Once your order is confirmed, your pricing is locked.
All applicable surcharges are agreed upon at the time of pricing. We will never add or increase charges after you’ve accepted a quote or placed an order, even if costs rise significantly after the fact.
This is part of our commitment to pricing transparency and reliability.
Several global and policy-related events are contributing:
- - Increased U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods under Section 301, recently upheld and expanded in 2024 and 2025 as part of broader U.S.-China trade tensions
- - Raw material shortages, particularly for ballistic-grade UHMWPE, aramid fibers, ceramics, and specialty steels
- - Increased shipping costs and container delays from Asia, affecting both availability and landed costs
- - Export restrictions from countries like South Korea and China on select defense-related goods
- - U.S. domestic reshoring incentives, which are changing supplier dynamics and increasing short-term demand for domestic resources
We monitor these developments in real time and adjust our sourcing and pricing strategies accordingly.
We review and update surcharge rates monthly—or sooner if trade regulations or supplier costs change significantly. Any changes are reflected in new quotes, not retroactively applied to orders that are already confirmed.
You can always find the current surcharge ranges on our live schedule.
We are committed to removing or reducing surcharges as soon as the underlying cost pressures ease. Our goal is not to profit from volatility—it’s to maintain product availability and delivery consistency without compromising on performance or service.When possible, we absorb increased costs internally and only pass along what is necessary to maintain our operational commitments.
Yes. We offer custom pricing programs for long-term partners, large volume purchases, and agencies requiring budget predictability.
If you need committed pricing for 30, 60, or 90+ days, please contact your sales representative or sales@customarmorgroup.com to discuss a tailored program.
We’re here to help. Contact your CAG sales rep directly, or email sales@customarmorgroup.com with your questions. You can also call us at 336-617-4667.
We’ll walk you through the details and ensure you have everything you need for clear, confident purchasing decisions.
