US gunmakers scrambling to adapt to Trump's uncertain tariff threats

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Fri 11 Apr 2025 11.00 EDT
Last modified on Fri 11 Apr 2025 12.43 EDT


Donald Trump’s whiplash decisions on tariffs have brought uncertainty to a sector of the US economy usually squarely behind the president: the gun industry. For gunmakers, tariffs pose the risk of sharply raising costs on imported raw materials, such as copper, steel and aluminum, as well as safety products like gun locks and lockable cases that often are made overseas.

Most of the guns sold in the US come from US-based manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson and Ruger, but they require components sourced from around the world. The accessories and safety tools included in many gun packages, too, often come from companies that rely primarily on offshore factories. Imported guns mostly come from Austria, Brazil and Turkey, according to a 2024 report on firearm commerce from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

With tariff policy in constant flux, gunmakers and adjacent companies are trying to adapt to a situation that remains fluid. Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries except China. The Wednesday announcement followed several days of stock market volatility and companies in the footwear and automotive industries trying to adjust to the threat of higher prices.

The Firearm Industry Trade Association (NSSF) worries that tariffs and the growing threat of a trade war will push manufacturing costs upward, stunt the economic growth of the industry and “lead to a reduced consumer demand and exacerbate an already soft market”, it said in a note to its members.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/guns-trump-tariffs

[Lovie777]

1. Say what?................

[forgotmylogin]

2. Probably the only way to implement gun control these days:

Make them so expensive that nobody can afford them.

[IronLionZion]

3. Ironically that was a common GOP plan back in the 90s

their argument was that criminals use cheap guns and law abiding people use expensive guns. It's typical GOP logic that only rich people defend themselves while poor people are crooked somehow.

[NickB79]

4. Good thing I stocked up on my favorite Mexican-made ammunition

Aguila makes excellent .22 rimfire ammo for a low price that is great for small game hunting.

And extra magazines for my Brazilian-made Taurus handgun.

Though I'm pissed I didn't grab more magazines for my Czech-made target rifle.