What Tariffs Mean for the Future of Publishing
- Jan Zucker
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
How was your week? I had another exciting but challenging week. Aren’t they all?
We launched our first book title under the publishing Imprint DCCVanguardian. As much as I would like to brag about it, there’s important news that all of us need to be aware of.
Big changes are coming to the publishing world, and if you’ve ever printed a book—or plan to—you need to be paying attention. This is not about politics but how politics affects all of us and why we need to stay flexible and be ready to pivot quickly.
New tariffs on books, paper, and printing materials from China, Canada, and Mexico could significantly increase production costs for all content creators. Whether you print overseas or domestically, the ripple effects could reshape how books are made and sold.
At DCC, we’re always looking at how industry changes affect authors, coaches, and thought leaders who rely on publishing to build influence.
Lessons from the Past: Printing in China Isn’t Always Smooth
In the past, we worked with small print runs in China to cut costs, but it wasn’t always worth the savings.
There were quality control issues, misaligned covers, and ink inconsistencies. Once the books shipped, there was little recourse. One shipment got stuck in customs for six weeks because it was in the same container as food products—delays we had zero control over.
With new tariffs making offshore printing even more expensive and unpredictable, authors and publishers may need to rethink their production strategies.
What’s Happening?
✔ A 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico + a 10% increase on Chinese imports just went into effect.
✔ Paper prices are rising—67% of uncoated paper used for books comes from Canada, and it’s now subject to tariffs.
✔ China remains a major player in book production, but rising costs may push publishers to seek alternatives.
✔ U.S. printers claim they have the capacity, but higher demand could increase turnaround times and costs. BTW- The price of printing a book with a small press run is astronomical if you use commercial printers.
What This Means for Authors
If you’re an author, coach, or thought leader, the rising cost of book production could mean:
📚 Higher prices for print editions—publishers are already considering increasing hardcover prices by $1 or more.
📦 Longer wait times—if printing shifts to the U.S., delays could be a new reality.
🎧 A bigger push toward audiobooks & digital formats—audiobook production costs have dropped significantly, and audiobooks are now the fastest-growing segment in publishing.
If you’re publishing a book, now is the time to make sure you have digital and audio versions available to reach more readers without relying solely on print.
A New Approach to Publishing
This is exactly why we launched DCCVanguardian Publishing—to give influencers, experts, and independent authors more control over their message. Our first imprint, The Influencer is the Message, is dedicated to helping creators build influence beyond shifting platforms and policies.
And what better way to kick off this movement than with our first book release, written by our own Publisher, Johannes (Harry) Westbroek. His book The Influencer Is The Message explores why influence—not platforms—now determines whose voice gets heard.
With tariffs raising questions about the future of publishing, one thing is clear: owning your content, your audience, and your distribution is more important than ever.
Stay tuned for our big launch announcement!
What’s your publishing strategy in light of these changes? Hit reply, and let’s discuss.
Keep creating, keep innovating, and keep control.
Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways Digital Content Creators can help you:
Book Production: Our expert team ensures your book is professional, attractive, and competitive. We handle everything from design to distribution, delivering on time and within budget. With rapid turnaround and access to major sales platforms, DCC transforms your manuscript into a market-ready masterpiece. Let us bring your vision to life!
eLearning Course Development: Turn your expertise into powerful eLearning courses that scale your business and generate passive income. Our instructional and graphic designers convert your knowledge into engaging, interactive courses. We create custom courses that resonate with learners and deliver learning outcomes. Let DCC bring your knowledge to life!
Social Content OS: We install a customized Human2AI Marketing Operating System for content creation and post publishing, scaling your influence across multiple channels. Plan, generate, edit, repurpose, and publish content at record speeds. Let our content machine 10x your output so you can focus on networking, relationships, and other areas of your business.
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