Dropshipping In The United States After 2025

Is the USA doing away with non-US products, and is this the end of dropshipping? 

No, not really. It is the best time to dropship to the US. Now that new laws are in place, you have better leverage than giant corporations because, unlike them, you do not have to pay millions of dollars in tariffs.

In this article, you will learn why it is still worth it to dropship to the USA, how American consumers think, and more importantly, who you can work with to succeed in US dropshipping. 

Is Dropshipping To The US Worth It?

Yes, dropshipping to the US is definitely worth it. If anything, it is the only market that you must focus on, considering the country’s economy and the population’s behavior—the USA is known for its consumerism, and it is what makes the economy thrive. 

Reasons To Dropship To The US

1. The USA is the largest dropshipping market

Brace yourself for this: the US GDP is over $30 trillion. The world’s GDP is around $110 trillion, which means that as far as trade goes, the USA accounts for 30% of the world’s spending.

In the dropshipping sector, the US makes up a huge chunk of the global dropshipping market. In 2024, Shopify said that the US dropshipping economy was valued at $351 billion, and it is expected to grow by $500 billion in 2026, despite the crackdowns that the government is doing.

2. The USA is still the primary target of hybrid shipping logistics companies

Gone are the days when people used to dropship straight from China, mainly from AliExpress. Many manufacturers and suppliers realized that they will be better off if they build their warehouses in the US mainland.

There is a big problem: Packages that ship straight to the US (say, from China) will take a long while. The USA may be a top destination, but the cargo containers must be filled up before they can leave (to save on fuel, labor, etc.). At the same time, suppliers that choose to maintain warehouses in the US have limited supply, warehousing costs and a disconnected shipping system (international plus mainland), making products very expensive for dropshippers. As a result, only established brands that charge high prices are able to use such suppliers. Dropshipping beginners with new brands cannot be profitable.

The good news is hybrid shipping, which is what Tradelle does. In this shipping model, Tradelle chooses shipping paths in the smartest way possible, thus avoiding long wait times. They essentially work with multiple logistics companies to expedite shipping. This way—in combination with their tariff expertise—long shipping can be avoided. Picking the right combination of shipping days, transit countries and logistics chains makes it possible to compete with mainland warehouse suppliers on shipping times at a fraction of the cost.

For example, instead of shipping from China to the US, Tradelle will:

• Work with a logistics company that has a scheduled shipment to Mexico or Brazil for a specific product type,
• then, work with another logistics company to instantly forward the package to the US,
• then, make sure it is handled by a mainland shipping company the moment it arrives.

The shipment from Mexico can take only a day, or at most, two. This is much more effective and faster than shipping straight from China to the US, which can take weeks!

The benefit: Shipping for dropshippers is ultimately faster and way cheaper.

3. The USA offers better profit margins

To better demonstrate this, let us look into one product and compare its price between Amazon and its Asian counterpart, Lazada Singapore. 

Here is a sample product you can source directly from Tradelle for $1.71:

On Amazon, a product like this sells for around $15.

In Singapore, a similar product only sells for around $5.

If we do the math and base the profit on a capital of $1.71, you would have made a profit of $13.29 in the US, but only $3.29 in Asia. 

Why is there a big difference? Since the US economy is bigger, people who work also earn more money, which means they have higher disposable income than the rest of the world.

Challenges Of Dropshipping In The US

Of course, dropshipping in the US is not a walk in the park. While it is the best thing you can do in the dropshipping space, it also comes with a lot of challenges, such as:

• Cost of Goods—goods that come from within the US are more expensive than those that ship from China or other countries. Since you are paying for more capital, you also earn less in profits. 
• De Minimis—the USA is currently cracking down on imported goods, as they have impacted their economy a lot. This means that your target customers will have to pay customs duties on top of what they paid you for the product and shipping. 
• Competition—everyone is shipping to the US. You are not just competing against other dropshippers but with giant retailers like Temu and Shein.

Should you be worried? No, not at all. There is no better time to dropship than now. When there is blood and panic on the streets, that is the best time to swoop in.

The cost of goods should not worry you because there are suppliers like Tradelle who will source viral dropshipping products on your behalf. These products have competitive prices, plus they have warehouses in the US.

How about the customs duties and taxation? No, and it is because you are not shipping millions of parcels to the USA every day. Trump’s new tariffs have little impact on your business.

If you source products outside the US, the taxes your customers pay are peanuts. The import taxes you pay are so negligible that you do not need to worry about them.

So yes, dropshipping in the US is still a profitable venture. If anything, it is the best time to do it. The more people get scared and do nothing, the less competition you have.

Tips For Dropshipping From The US To The US

What many dropshippers do is look for a US supplier, open a dropshipping store, and drive traffic to it, and yet their stores fail. 

Why?

They made an assumption that dropshipping from the US to the US is easy. Well, there are nuances to it, and if you understand these nuances, you will have better chances of success.

1. Understand Legal Groundwork

You do not need to be a lawyer, and you also do not need to lawyer up to dropship to the US. The specific laws you must understand mostly revolve around restrictions, truthfulness, taxes, requirements to start a business, etc. 

The most important ones you need to address are:

• Restrictions—you cannot sell or even advertise materials or products that violate the law. Some examples of these are adult productions, sex toys, hazardous materials, guns, ammunition, etc. 
• Consumer Protection Laws—the US has laws about advertising, disclosures, data protection, opting out of marketing emails, and many more. Do not violate any of these so you do not get in trouble. 
• Seller Tariffs—when Trump was elected, he ended the $800 De Minimis law. This means that goods imported by sellers like you must now come with tax duties. By law, it is the seller who must pay this tax. 

Do not treat these legal expectations as hurdles. Instead, consider them as basic expectations that you must meet. It is not that hard to know what these restrictions are. In all simplicity, if a product is dangerous or obscene, stay away from it.

As far as tariffs go, you do not even have to read the law. Reputable dropshipping suppliers will include this in the shipping price. If you organize shipping yourself, just declare the item and its value, and the shipping company will tell you how much tax you should pay.

Or, you can work with a supplier like Tradelle—they have it all figured out, which means the taxes and tariffs are paid in the background. The price you see on the product fulfillment page is what you pay overall without any hidden costs. 

2. Understand Consumer Demand

US consumers have high standards. While it is true that low-quality products flooded the US market for so long, the consumers are now tired of these. Today, they would rather pay a premium for a high-quality product than pay little for a cheap knock-off.

It is not just the product quality you must worry about, but also the degree of confidence the consumers have in you. Some factors you need to consider are

• Complaints Management—do you have a process for refunds, product exchanges, or the likes? Consumers in the US have high expectations when it comes to their issues being resolved.
• Product Pages—make sure your product pages and videos are up to par with your US counterparts and competitors. Your grammar must also be impeccable. Americans can see through these errors, and if they so much as think they are dealing with a non-US entity, they will leave your store. 
• Customer Service—Americans expect a human being to address their concerns quickly. Though you can use chatbots for simple issues, make it a point that there is a human being who can address complicated problems like lost parcels, incorrect items delivered, etc.

Americans are not difficult people. Their demand for excellence and quality is part of their culture. It is no wonder that it is also home to some of the biggest technologies ever made. They want excellence, efficiency, and quality. 

3. Determine Supplier Reliability

One important component of dropshipping success in the US is supplier reliability. But what makes a supplier reliable? 

A reliable supplier must

• understand the dropship model,
• ship products on time,
• offer a variety of high-quality products. 

The demand of Americans for high-quality products and fast shipping will eventually trickle down to your supplier. Remember, it is not you who manufactures the products, and it is not you who ships them, either. 

You should only work with a supplier who understands the complexities of the dropshipping business model. Specifically, work with a supplier like Tradelle, one whose business is built around dropshipping. 

Doing this gives you the confidence that the supplier understands your plight. If your supplier is a dropshipping partner, then they surely will make it a point to:

• raise the quality of the products they supply and
• do what they can to expedite shipping (accurate and timely).

They will do this because if they don’t, their dropship partners will not make sales, and if this happens, the suppliers themselves will go out of business. 

4. Analyze Competitor Strengths

Competitor analysis does not end with how your competitors’ websites look. In addition to understanding their marketing strategies, you must also dig deep into their internal practices and processes. 

Here are some examples:

• What do they do about refunds and complaints?
• Who are their suppliers?
• What store platforms do they use, and which apps? 

If these competitors are making sales, you can presume that this success is a culmination of all these things that they do. Digging deeper will give you an idea of how these competitors “deal” with or “understand” American consumers, and this can help you improve your business practices to make them more “American”.

Tips For Dropshipping From Anywhere To The US

Surely, you want to earn US dollars because its conversion to your local currency gives you more value than what you would have earned locally. 

But you are not from the US, and this poses a challenge. It is a commonly accepted estimate that 90% of dropship stores fail, and most of these target the American market.

The most common advice you get is to have a professional-looking store, find in-demand product, penetrate profitable niches, like the beauty niche, etc. 

All these are moot if you do not focus on the most important factor: the American consumer.

1. Understand American Mentality

What is the American mindset when it comes to buying? How do Americans decide what to buy? Americans have a consumerism mentality—they will buy things they do not need.

A bigger house is better. A new water bottle is better. New clothing is better.

Everything is better, so the only thing you must do now is to convince the buyer to purchase your offer. How? By ensuring that you meet the following criteria:

• Good value for price—Americans will pay more if the quality is better. 
• Ethical and sustainable—there is a lot going on about environmental concerns, animal rights, and humanitarian issues like forced child labor. Market your goods as compliant with these expectations, and you will attract more American consumers. 
• Quality and reliability—Americans want products that last long; they pride themselves in owning and making the best. This is why the tag “Made in America” has more value than “Made in China.” 
• Health and wellness—the most health-conscious society in the world is America. A product that improves health and well-being will have more success than a luxury product. 
• Convenience and efficiency—Americans prioritize work-life balance, and many of them have been weaned out of hard labor. 

These are the very things that drive Americans to buy. In addition, Americans love products that solve problems. So, given all these factors, it is not your store that is the problem. Instead, concentrate on what the product can do for the American consumer.

2. Know Shipping Timelines And Laws

Amazon has changed the landscape of online shopping, particularly when it comes to shipping. A standard Amazon package takes three to five business days to deliver. Then, they offer 2-day and same-day shipping. 

Who can beat that?

Many dropshippers think that Americans will be willing to wait for 10 to 30 days for their products because they are cheap. This may have worked in the past, but Amazon changed that, especially when they launched Amazon FBA.

Today, you are competing with sellers whose products are physically located in Amazon warehouses. Because of this, shipping speed must be your top priority. It does not even matter if the product is low-cost or not—there are many low-cost products on Amazon that ship the following day.

Just because you are outside of the US does not mean you must also ship products from within the US. There are many suppliers whose products are outside the US, like in Canada or Mexico—close enough to ship within reasonable timelines. Furthermore, creative logistical processes are being developed by dropshipping suppliers every day, ensuring cost-effective and fast shipping.

If anything, it is no longer advisable to work with AliExpress exclusively. Instead, find a hybrid supplier like Tradelle that offers advanced shipping models and product selection—all for the benefit of the American consumer.

3. Prioritize Customer Experience

This is really one of the toughest nuts to crack. Unless you have worked in an American company, like a contact or call center, you may find it extremely difficult to understand what an American customer wants.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Americans have choice—this makes them very demanding; fail them once and they will move to your competitor.
• Chargebacks and refunds—they do not tolerate being ripped off; they will not hesitate to ask for a refund (and there are refund laws that protect consumers) or file a chargeback with their card issuer (this can ruin your business, so prevent chargebacks at all costs). 
• Trust in ads is dead—before the internet, the American consumer was easily sucked in by ads (think TV ads). This does not work anymore. Americans today are more trusting of social proof than video or image ads.
• Convenience—Americans want convenience. They live in a society where technology is readily available. If your website and processes are too slow or are obsolete, they will never buy from you. 

Please take note that customer experience does not just happen after receiving the product. It all begins on your landing page. You must make it easy for the American consumer to navigate your store and see the products, prices, filters, search, etc. 

You must also be reachable; answer their inquiries in less than 24 hours. Be straight to the point, acknowledge their concerns and solve them. Do not beat around the bush. REMEMBER: Americans have many options to choose from, and they will not hesitate to leave you for someone or something else.

Best Dropshipping Supplier For Both US And Other Countries 

Now that you know how Americans think and what their expectations are, it is time to find a dropshipping partner who can help you meet all these criteria, and this is no other than Tradelle.

Why? Here are a few reasons:

• Hybrid Shipping—it is a shipping model where packages from outside the US are not shipped directly to the US, but go through a different routing system to make the entire shipping time faster.  
• Built for Dropshippers—Tradelle in itself is a supplier, but it additionally works with manufacturers who know the dropshipping space. Given this, you have the assurance that they know your pain and that they will help overcome your business hurdles. 
• Warehouses—Tradelle, being a supplier, works with hybrid shipping and logistics processes. Even if the products are not from the US, the shipping speed is competitive enough to meet American expectations, while costing a fraction of the price of suppliers located within the US.
• Analytics—the Tradelle system has deep analytics that help you understand your competitors, product demand, market saturation, etc. 
• Community—if you need advice or personalized help, you can join Tradelle’s Discord community, where you can meet other dropshippers like you.

Tradelle, overall, makes it easy for you to succeed in the dropshipping business. You can ask them to build a dropshipping store for you, which comes with a selection of hand-picked products. 

If you want to build a store on your own, you can still use Tradelle to:

• Do product research, including competition research 
• Import products from Tradelle to your Shopify store
• Automated fulfillment and tracking
• Track regional interest for products
• Calculate profit margins
• Spy on ads of competitors

Automated fulfillment means you no longer have to order the product yourself. If a customer places an order in your store, this order will go straight to Tradelle, and they will begin the packing and shipping processes immediately.

Since Tradelle is built for dropshippers, they make it a point to understand the changing landscape of the dropshipping industry. When Trump announced the tariff changes, Tradelle was quick to guide its users on how this change will impact dropshippers.

Customer service is also at the top of Tradelle’s priorities. You can expect full support 24/7 for everything you need. For example, if your buyer has accidentally stated the wrong shipping address, Tradelle’s support team will be quick to adjust it. Same goes for returns, complaints, and other day-to-day challenges of online sellers selling thousands of products every single day.

Summary: Dropshipping in the United States After 2025

Do not get carried away by the doom-and-gloom you see and hear about dropshipping to the USA. The market is stronger than ever. It is only a matter of understanding the American consumer’s mindset, what they demand, and working with a reliable partner, such as Tradelle. 

Speaking of which, Tradelle is completely free. Why not sign up for a free account now, so you can test what the platform can do? Experiment with the system’s product finder, importer, competitor analysis tools, profit calculators, and more!