At Atlantic Vision, a Massachusetts-based provider of data center fiber optic cables and terminals, said the new Trump tariffs on China, now at 20 percent, will have minimal impact on their business model. Edward Berman, the CEO of the company said in a recent blog, that, even amid these tariffs, leveraging the global supply chain, “particularly through our trusted factories overseas, remains the smartest, most cost-effective move for American companies.”
“That’s how we get our high-quality fiber optic solutions to our customers at the lowest price, every time,” Berman said. “Let’s talk numbers. Take an LC fiber optic patch cord, a critical component for data center projects. Domestically manufactured, it’ll set you back $14 per unit. Through Atlantic Vision’s partnerships in China, we deliver the same high-quality patch cord for just $4, even with a 20 percent tariff factored in. When you’re ordering tens of thousands of these for a single project, those savings add up fast.”
According to Berman, their global suppliers are built to handle massive volumes that U.S. manufacturers can’t always match efficiently. Tariffs might tweak the math, he said, but they don’t rewrite the equation. “Global sourcing still slashes costs dramatically,” he said.
Berman said that beyond cost, there’s capability. Products like the MPO (multi-fiber push-on) connector highlight why China, in his opinion, remains indispensable. These components demand precision, capacity, and quality that domestic production struggles to replicate at scale.
Atlantic Vision says they use their overseas facilities not just to keep prices low, but to meet the unique, high-volume customization needs of their clients. “Whether it’s a bespoke fiber optic solution or a bulk order tailored to a specific data center build, we deliver flexibility that keeps projects on track and under budget,” Berman said.
Berman contends that tariffs don’t level the playing field as much as people think. Major U.S. manufacturers often import raw materials themselves, he said, facing similar trade costs before production even begins.
“By contrast, our streamlined supply chain cuts out the middleman. We source, manufacture, and deliver directly, ensuring that savings stay in your pocket—not lost to redundant markups,” Berman said.
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