New US tariffs on imported lab equipment and supplies are introducing a new layer of complexity to lab budgeting. With average duties approaching 23 percent—and significantly higher for some countries and products—lab managers are under growing pressure to make purchasing decisions that balance cost, quality, and operational continuity.

“Assume your costs are going up one way or another. The best thing you can do is be well informed.”

And while lab managers can’t control trade policy, they can control their response. Drew Kevorkian, chief executive officer of ARES Scientific, emphasizes that managers must prepare strategically: “Assume costs are going up one way or another. The best thing to do is be well informed.” The strategies outlined below draw from Kevorkian’s frontline insights, offering a practical lab manager tariff strategy to protect productivity and financial stability amid ongoing uncertainty. 

Get training in Effectively Advocating for the Lab and earn CEUs.

One of over 25 IACET-accredited courses in the Academy.

Effectively Advocating for the Lab course

Audit lab exposure first

Before responding strategically to tariff-driven price hikes, lab managers need clarity about where their labs are most vulnerable. Start by mapping each high-value SKU or critical piece of equipment to its country of origin, including major imported subcomponents.

Kevorkian advises caution here: “Don’t assume that just because something is made in the United States that it will be tariff-free, because many of the components are not.”

Once the audit is complete, lab managers can model tariff scenarios to estimate potential additional costs:

• Best (tariffs remain stable);
• Base (moderate increases);
• Worst (major surcharges or supply disruptions).

Identifying the high-value or high-volume items most at risk helps labs prioritize effective mitigation strategies before costs escalate further.

Look beyond sticker price to total cost of ownership

When tariffs drive prices upward, lab managers might feel pressure to seek cheaper alternatives, but Kevorkian advises a deeper look before switching suppliers or products. Smarter buying decisions depend on considering the total cost of ownership as part of a lab manager tariff strategy.

“The more [lab managers] can educate themselves on what the options are in the market, the better they can make buying decisions,” Kevorkian says. “It’s going to come down to the cost of owning the product.”

This involves comparing energy consumption, preventive maintenance intervals, and expected lifespan alongside initial purchase price. For instance, selecting a freezer with lower energy usage or a biosafety cabinet with affordable replacement filters can quickly neutralize the impact of tariff-driven increases.

Extend the life of existing equipment

To avoid making new purchases as tariffs inflate costs, labs should maximize their current assets' lifespan.

“If you bought quality, generally, you can invest in maintaining a piece of equipment for a longer period,” Kevorkian says, citing examples of autoclaves still running smoothly after 40 or 50 years due to diligent maintenance.

By tightening preventive maintenance schedules, training staff on simple yet critical tasks like swapping filters and gaskets, and consistently documenting equipment uptime, labs can often extend a major asset’s useful life by at least a year. Even this modest extension can free up significant capital to offset tariff-driven price increases elsewhere.

Check out these five tips to decrease equipment downtime.

Negotiate for value, not just price

In a market disrupted by tariffs, demanding deep price cuts from suppliers may not be feasible—especially when tariffs consume vendor margins.

Kevorkian emphasizes: “This is a very difficult environment to negotiate on price, and that’s why both customers and vendors need to lean on value.”

Instead of focusing solely on discounts, an effective lab manager tariff strategy is to negotiate extras such as operator training, extended warranties, or priority service agreements. These added benefits significantly reduce the total cost of ownership, helping labs navigate tariff-driven price hikes without eroding supplier relationships.

Diversify suppliers and pool purchasing power

As tariffs reshape pricing dynamics, high-quality instruments from the United States, Canada, and the European Union become more competitive against Far East imports. By combining orders across departments, campuses, or institutions, lab managers can strengthen purchasing positions.

“If customers can pool their labs together to buy smarter, that’s always helpful,” Kevorkian notes. Pairing this pooled demand with multi-year purchasing agreements or long-term service contracts locks in stable pricing and insulates lab budgets from future tariff fluctuations.

Pursue efficiency upgrades that pay for themselves

Kevorkian highlights increased innovation around “labor savings, like automation, energy savings, [and] space savings,” as labs seek innovative ways to offset rising costs.

Investments in automated plate handlers, low-power incubators, or modular robotics can sufficiently reduce labor and utility expenses to neutralize tariff-related price hikes. Approaching these improvements as strategic, ROI-driven investments—rather than optional luxuries—can help maintain balanced lab budgets even amid tariff uncertainty.

Build strong relationships and foster resilience

Personal relationships remain a lab manager's most valuable resource in an environment marked by uncertainty and rising costs.

“There’s still an element of personal relationships in our industry,” Kevorkian stresses, encouraging lab managers to proactively reconnect with sales engineers, smaller manufacturers, and professional networks. Such relationships can yield significant benefits, like access to refurbished equipment, rapid-response service, or valuable insights on tariff exemptions when supply chains tighten.

“Stay positive, be patient, and try to find opportunities.”

Above all, Kevorkian urges lab managers to cultivate resilience: “Stay positive, be patient, and try to find opportunities.” Approaching a lab manager tariff strategy with optimism and curiosity can lead to creative solutions, helping labs emerge stronger through periods of uncertainty.