With President Trump’s tariff wars upending the global economy, you still have to act locally, and the effect of tariffs on graphic novel publishing has been a source of tremendous anxiety for the comics industry. However, published books had previously been exempt from tariffs on goods imported for China….and it appears that they still are.
I’d gotten wind of this last week but had conflicting information on whether it was still true. Jim Milliot at Publishers Weekly confirms that a Cold War-era exemption is still in place, for now.
A recently released federal document shows the many categories that are not subject to tariffs, a list that includes “printed matter, nesoi,” which translates to “not elsewhere specified or included.” Other items that are specifically mentioned include printed books and children’s picture, drawing, and coloring books. In addition, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) remains intact, meaning that goods considered “compliant”—among them books and paper—will not face new tariffs.
While no new tariffs on books are imminent, the existing 7.5% tariffs on books printed in China implemented by the first Trump administration, which were kept in place under President Biden, remain in force. Bibles and other religion books also remain exempted from the new tariffs. While paper from Canada is exempt from the tariffs for the moment, it is unclear whether paper, pulp, and ink imported from other countries will be subject to higher duties. If so, that could raise prices for American printers.
The exemptions to Chinese tariffs are mentioned in the official White House proclamation, and laid out in several annexes. A table lists exempted products:
Also exempt: items made from cuttlebone. Now you know.
As mentioned “nesoi” is not a new kind of ink drawing, but stands for “not elsewhere specified or included.”
Of course, with the world in volatile shape and a Phantom Menace style trade war underway with no end in sight, this could be only a brief reprieve. Several companies have already reacted to the expected imposition of tariffs. The the entire second wave of LONGBOX HEROES collectible figures has been cancelled, Matt Wagner Xed:
Hey gang…unfortunately, some sad news. Due to our “brilliant leader’s” unprovoked trade war with the rest of the world, the entire second wave of LONGBOX HEROES collectible figures has been cancelled due to the newly-levied and crushing tariff rates on goods from China. Fuck. pic.twitter.com/CSEsUO0iNI
— Matt Wagner (@MattWagnerComic) April 3, 2025
And Spawn comics have raised their price from $2.99 to $3.99.
No, you’re not imagining it — everything is getting more expensive these days (and that’s only likely to get worse in the near future). If you want evidence of that fact, look no further than Image Comics’ latest update of upcoming releases, where it can be seen that, after more than a decade, Todd McFarlane’s entire Spawn comic book line (which spans six ongoing series, including Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, King Spawn, and Spawn: Rat City, in addition to other miniseries) is raising its prices from $2.99 an issue to $3.99.
The change will actually take effect with July’s Spawn #366; details of the Spawn line are announced to retailers and fans months in advance of publication.
The Beat’s own resident retailer columnist Jacob Shapiro of Fantom Comics appeared on the CBS Evening News to talk tariffs:
As tariffs rise and uncertainty grows, small business owners like Jacob Shapiro fear their livelihoods could be at risk. “We need a plan,” he tells CBS News’ @NancyCordes. “You can’t just flip the switch and change distribution models.” pic.twitter.com/buLgadCEF2
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 4, 2025
While the news of the grandfathered exemptions is welcome for now…tomorrow could bring different news. And it’s the nagging uncertainty that is taking a toll for those we’ve talked to.
