Tiger Balm faces tariff aches and pains from Trump’s trade war with China

Tiger balm, the popular menthol ointment used by athletes and arthritis patients, has just one U.S. distributor and a single factory in China, making it especially vulnerable to the tariff standoff.

Tiger balm, the popular menthol ointment used by athletes and arthritis patients, has just one U.S. distributor and a single factory in China, making it especially vulnerable to the tariff standoff. 

A 0.63-ounce hexagonal jar of the amber-colored balm typically sells in the U.S. for about $8. But its sole American distributor, Prince of Peace Enterprises, based in Livermore, California, says retail prices could soon rise as President Donald Trump hiked up tariffs on China as high as 145%. 

The ointment for the U.S. markets is produced at a factory in China and, at the current tax rate, the distributor is anticipating $3 million to $5 million in tariff costs this year for Tiger Balm products, said Matt Chin, Prince of Peace president. At least some of that may be passed onto consumers, but not for now. 

“We’re adopting a more measured approach,” Chin said. “Our customers rely on us, and we want to hold off on raising prices.”

Har Paw Corp., a pharmaceutical company based in Singapore, is the headquarters for Tiger Balm products. But the American product comes out of China, and sells more than $30 million worth of the ointment in the U.S annually. Har Paw didn’t respond to requests for comment.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/tiger-balm-tariffs-trump-china-rcna201435

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