Alexandria, VA — August 4, 2025 – The White House has issued formal notice that updated reciprocal tariffs for key trade partners will go into effect beginning August 7, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, ending a temporary pause in enforcement first signaled in April 2025. These new measures pose a substantial challenge to the global sourcing, pricing and logistics strategies of businesses across the optical industry. 

Alexandria, VA — July 9, 2025 – The White House has issued formal notice to several U.S. trading partners outlining substantial tariff increases now set to take effect August 1, 2025, following an extension of the Administration’s original 90-day pause from April. These sweeping changes have significant implications for the optical industry’s international supply chains and bottom lines.

Alexandria, VA – May 30, 2025 – The Vision Council is providing an important update regarding the legal status of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Following the U.S. Court of International Trade's (CIT) May 28 ruling that permanently prohibited these tariffs, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a temporary stay on May 29, allowing the continued collection of the tariffs during the government's appeal process.

Alexandria, VA — May 29, 2025 – In a significant ruling that stands to impact many in the vision industry, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued a decision on May 28, 2025, permanently prohibiting all tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). These tariffs affected a wide range of imported goods, including materials and products relevant to the vision sector.

Alexandria, VA – May 12, 2025 –The Vision Council issued a statement on the U.S. and China’s mutual decision to temporarily reduce tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of goods. The agreement, announced the morning of May 12, slashes tariffs on U.S. and Chinese imports for a 90-day period, offering short-term relief to industries affected by the long-standing trade conflict, including the optical and vision care sectors.

Alexandria, VA – May 9, 2025 – The Vision Council is taking action on Capitol Hill to advocate for practical, pro-business solutions that preserve access to vision care and support the continued success of the optical industry in the face of evolving trade and regulatory challenges.

Alexandria, VA – April 22, 2025 – On April 21, representatives from The Vision Council, the national trade association representing manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers in the optical industry, met with Robin Colwell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, at the White House. The group shared how vision care supports public health, education, workforce participation, and aging – and emphasized the challenges posed by current trade policies.

Alexandria, VA – April 10, 2025 – The Vision Council continues to provide its members with timely information and critical resources regarding tariffs and their potential impact on the vision and optical industry. As global trade policies evolve, changes in tariff regulations will significantly affect the cost and availability of optical products, including frames, lenses, and equipment used throughout the supply chain.

Alexandria, VA – April 4, 2025 – The Vision Council is closely monitoring the newly imposed reciprocal tariffs and their potential impact on the vision and optical industry. These tariffs increase import duties on goods from nearly all countries by at least 10%, significantly affecting companies that import eyewear and optical products, especially from countries like China and others for whom higher rates will be set.

Alexandria, VA – March 7, 2025 – The Vision Council is closely monitoring the latest round of tariffs announced by the Trump administration and hosted a webinar on March 6 that highlighted several significant implications for the optical industry. If implemented, these new tariffs will increase costs on a wide range of imported goods, including materials essential to eyewear manufacturing and distribution.