Toppe Consulting – Your Source for Digital News & Trends in the Legal Industry
The Upstate’s manufacturing sector faces unprecedented uncertainty following President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements on April 2, 2025. For law firms, this creates significant opportunities to serve manufacturers navigating a dramatically altered trade landscape.
The New Tariff Reality
Average U.S. tariff rates surged from 2.5% in January 2025 to an estimated 27% by April, then moderated to approximately 17.9% by September 2025. The Trump administration implemented sweeping measures including a 10% universal levy on all imported goods, 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, and 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper imports under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act.
Why This Matters for Your Law Firm
South Carolina’s manufacturing sector contributed $37.5 billion to the state’s GDP in 2024. The Upstate region alone hosts over 2,450 manufacturing firms and 579 international companies. These businesses urgently need legal guidance.
BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg employs over 11,000 workers and produces approximately 1,500 vehicles daily, with nearly 57% exported to 120 global markets. When tariffs increase on imported components and other countries retaliate with their own export tariffs, companies like BMW need experienced counsel.
As Greenville’s 7,000 new manufacturing jobs continue to reshape the region’s economy, law firms positioned to serve this sector will see tremendous growth.
What Manufacturers Are Experiencing
Real-world impacts are visible across the Upstate. S.L. Munson and Company, a precision tool manufacturer in Columbia, now writes weekly checks for 10% tariffs on European component imports. According to the Institute for Supply Management, 86% of manufacturers cited tariffs as a primary concern in recent surveys.
Manufacturers are reducing production and implementing targeted layoffs while waiting for policy clarity. However, some businesses benefit—Century Aluminum restarted production at its Mt. Holly smelter in August 2025, investing $50 million and creating over 100 jobs in response to 50% aluminum tariffs.
Legal Issues Manufacturers Are Facing
Manufacturers report reviewing supply agreements that don’t account for current tariff levels, examining force majeure clauses, and exploring renegotiation possibilities. Product classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule can significantly impact duty rates companies face.
Many companies are exploring nearshoring, reshoring, or diversifying suppliers to reduce tariff exposure—decisions involving contract, intellectual property, and employment considerations. Export-focused manufacturers are navigating retaliatory tariffs and evolving regulations.
The legal landscape remains fluid. Federal courts ruled IEEPA-based tariffs illegal in lower court decisions, though they remain in effect pending appeal. The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider consolidated tariff cases in November 2025.
Positioning Your Firm to Capture This Work
Law firms serving manufacturing clients need strong digital presence. When a manufacturer searches for legal guidance on tariff compliance or supply chain restructuring, your firm should appear first. This requires establishing thought leadership through legal commentary on manufacturing issues.
Content marketing is essential. Regular articles addressing tariff impacts, supply chain legal considerations, and international trade compliance demonstrate expertise. This positions your firm as the go-to resource when manufacturers face urgent legal questions.
Your website should prominently feature manufacturing and international trade practice areas. Many manufacturers searching for counsel at 2 AM need immediate answers—your site should capture these consultation requests.
Local SEO matters tremendously. When BMW executives or Upstate manufacturers search “international trade attorney Greenville” or “supply chain lawyer Spartanburg,” your firm needs to dominate those results.
The Opportunity Ahead
South Carolina’s manufacturing sector shows resilience despite tariff uncertainty. The state led the nation with 1.7% real GDP growth in Q1 2025 when 39 states saw GDP decreases. New investments continue, including Isuzu’s $280 million manufacturing plant announced in February 2025 and Woodward’s $200 million aerospace facility breaking ground in September 2025.
This sustained growth means manufacturers will continue needing sophisticated legal counsel. Law firms that establish authority in international trade, supply chain law, and manufacturing issues now will benefit for years to come.
The same bar journal writing and authority-building that distinguishes leading practitioners also improves your firm’s visibility to manufacturing clients conducting online research.
How Toppe Consulting Helps Law Firms Capture Manufacturing Clients
At Toppe Consulting, we specialize in digital marketing for law firms. We understand that manufacturing clients conduct extensive online research before selecting counsel. Our services ensure your firm appears when manufacturers search for legal guidance.
We build SEO-optimized websites that showcase your manufacturing and international trade expertise. Our content marketing establishes your authority through regular articles on issues affecting manufacturers. We manage Google Ads campaigns targeting manufacturers searching for specific legal services.
Most importantly, we help law firms convert website visitors into consultation requests. When a manufacturer visits your site at 2 AM searching for tariff guidance, your contact forms, calls-to-action, and mobile-responsive design should make scheduling a consultation effortless.
The tariff landscape will continue evolving, creating ongoing demand for sophisticated legal counsel. Law firms with strong digital marketing strategies will capture this work.
About the Author
Jim Toppe is the founder of Toppe Consulting, a digital marketing agency specializing in law firms. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Clemson University and teaches Business Law at Greenville Technical College. Jim also serves as publisher and editor for South Carolina Manufacturing, a digital magazine. His unique background combines legal knowledge with digital marketing expertise to help attorneys grow their practices through compliant, results-driven strategies.
About Toppe Consulting: We provide website development, SEO, and digital marketing services exclusively for law firms. Our expertise in legal marketing helps attorneys attract and convert their ideal clients online.
Ready to grow your firm’s manufacturing practice? Contact us to discuss how we can help your firm capture more manufacturing clients through strategic digital marketing.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Works Cited
Bureau of Economic Analysis. “Gross Domestic Product by State and Personal Income by State, 1st Quarter 2025.” U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, June 2025, www.bea.gov/news/2025/gross-domestic-product-state-and-personal-income-state-1st-quarter-2025.
“Century Aluminum to Restart Production in South Carolina, Citing Trump’s Tariffs.” Manufacturing Dive, 11 Aug. 2025, www.manufacturingdive.com/news/century-aluminum-restart-production-south-carolina-section-232-tariffs/757293.
Holdman, Jessica. “Electric Vehicle Battery Company Halts Construction of SC Manufacturing Plant.” SC Daily Gazette, 6 June 2025, scdailygazette.com/2025/06/05/electric-vehicle-battery-company-halts-construction-of-sc-manufacturing-plant.
“Press Release: BMW Manufacturing Celebrates Seven Million BMWs Assembled in the United States.” BMW Group, 30 Apr. 2025, www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/article/detail/T0449904EN_US/bmw-manufacturing-celebrates-seven-million-bmws-assembled-in-the-united-states.
Schechter, Maayan. “South Carolina Manufacturer Among Those Grappling with Trump’s Tariffs.” South Carolina Public Radio, 20 June 2025, www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2025-06-20/south-carolina-manufacturer-among-those-grappling-with-trumps-tariffs.
“South Carolina’s Manufacturing Sector at Risk Amid New Tariffs.” Scholars Strategy Network, 27 June 2025, scholars.org/contribution/south-carolinas-manufacturing-sector-risk-amid.
“Tariffs in the Second Trump Administration.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Oct. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariffs_in_the_second_Trump_administration.
U.S. International Trade Administration. “Section 232 Investigations: The Effect of Imports on the National Security.” Trade.gov, www.trade.gov/section-232-investigations. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
U.S. International Trade Commission. “Harmonized Tariff Schedule.” USITC, www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/index.htm. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Von Nessen, Joey. “GDP & Personal Income, 1st Quarter 2025.” SC Department of Employment and Workforce, Aug. 2025, dew.sc.gov/labor-market-information-blog/2025-08/gdp-personal-income-1st-quarter-2025.
