New Technologies Make Tariffs Less Harmful to U.S. Consumers — and Beneficial
“Tariff.” The mere mention of the word elicits a host of emotions. Punishment. Fee. Higher prices. Over the last year, they’ve dominated headlines, as President Donald Trump tries to negotiate what he feels are fairer deals to balance the trade deficits we have with most countries. But aside from the benefits the President promises are ahead, there’s another silver lining: the products bearing the heaviest tariffs — electronics, cars, appliances — may in the end become less expensive thanks to new technologies that are making the production lines safer, more accurate, and less chaotic.
It’s a notion that gets lost in the political and economic slugfest playing out on cable news, podcasts, and popular streaming platforms. The fees imposed on imported products are intended to protect US industries and jobs, but whether they do or have has been muddied by politics. What is clear is that using new technologies to identify fake or defective products coming from abroad — say phone screen film South Korea, chip from Taiwan, battery from China — streamlines time, verification, and shipping, helping mitigate the costs of tariffs in the first place.
Companies are already working ahead. The Israel-based Security Matters (SMX) has even developed a system that embeds an invisible “marker” into raw materials. Unlike a barcode or label, it can’t be removed, copied, or forged. Now, customs officials or manufacturers can scan the material and instantly know where it came from. For consumers, that means fewer delays at ports, fewer disputes over sourcing, and ultimately, fewer price spikes caused by confusion or fraud. This capability is as important as cyber security measures being developed by SMX. Both protect safety, authenticity, efficiency, and most importantly Americans.
“We’ve taken something that used to rely on paperwork and turned it into science,” a SMX spokesperson said. “When you can prove where every part of a product comes from, you remove the guesswork—and that helps everyone from regulators to everyday shoppers.”
Why It Matters to Everyday Shoppers
At first, this sounds like a problem only governments and corporations care about. But the benefits trickle down. When products move faster through customs, they hit store shelves sooner. That helps avoid shortages, which can send prices soaring.
The tech also helps keep counterfeit goods out of the market. Fake electronics, toys, or car parts don’t just waste money—they can be unsafe. Imagine a bad actor altering a smart phone, airplane part or electric vehicle to shut down or cause something even more ominous to happen, ie the exploding pagers that were used against Hezbollah last year. With built-in verification, spotting fakes is easier, protecting buyers without them even knowing it.
The process makes tariffs more accurate. Each part of a product is taxed based on its real origin, not just where the final assembly happened. Also, technologies like the ones being developed by SMX make mislabeling — whether by accident or internationally — harder to get through. For American workers, that’s a win. When enforcement is stronger and fairer, domestic manufacturers get the edge they were promised. Over time, that can mean more investment—and more jobs—at home.
Economists say this kind of accountability is crucial. If companies know they can’t skirt the rules, they’re more likely to build supply chains that include real U.S. production. That’s good news for communities that have lost factories in recent decades.
A Future Where Trade Feels Fairer
The new tariff environment is still challenging. Prices may not drop overnight, and global supply chains remain complicated. But there’s reason to believe things are improving. Development being led by companies like SMX are part of a broader push to make trade policies actually work as intended. Instead of being a blunt instrument, tariffs can be applied precisely, rewarding companies that play by the rules and discouraging those that don’t.
In a time when global trade feels like one long headline about conflict and cost, it’s encouraging to know that quiet innovations are making a difference.