Despite Trump’s 90-Day Tariff Pause, 10% Tariffs Still Impact Ammo Market — What’s Next?

Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on the implementation of new tariffs, sparking a wave of cautious optimism among U.S. importers and businesses. However, despite this temporary relief, the ammunition industry continues to face significant pricing pressure due to the lingering effects of existing tariffs—particularly the 10% baseline tariffs that remain in place on a range of imported goods, including key materials and components used in ammunition manufacturing.

What the 90-Day Pause Actually Means

Trump’s 90-day pause only affects the planned increases or new tariffs that were set to go into effect this quarter. The existing 10% tariffs, originally imposed remain firmly in place. For the ammunition industry — which heavily relies on imported materials and finished goods, particularly from countries like China and Russia — this means prices are still under inflationary pressure. But not only materials, all ammo is affected by the 10% tariffs, so that means that price increases are likely coming.

These 10% tariffs impact a wide range of goods:

• Ammo
• Firearms
• Steel and brass casings
• Primers and propellants
• Tooling and reloading equipment
• Certain firearm accessories and optics

Because many U.S.-based manufacturers source components or even finished products from overseas, the cost of producing and distributing ammo remains high. Consumers are already seeing this reflected in elevated retail prices, especially for popular calibers like 9mm, .223 Remington, and 7.62x39mm.

What to Expect in the Next 90 Days

While the pause gives importers and manufacturers a small window to stabilize supply chains, uncertainty looms over what happens next:

• Restocking efforts may increase slightly as businesses take advantage of the pause to import at current tariff rates without fear of further hikes — which could temporarily stabilize prices.

• However, inventory from affected countries may still be limited, especially for bulk or surplus ammo that was once cheaper and more abundant, and not affected by the 10% General Tariffs.

• Distributors and retailers are likely to remain cautious, wary of what comes after the 90-day window — possibly leading to continued tight supply and conservative pricing strategies.

Conclusion

Even with the 90-day pause in new tariffs, the ammo market remains under pressure from existing trade restrictions. The persistent 10% tariffs continue to drive up production and import costs, keeping ammo prices higher than many would like. Over the next few months, expect cautious optimism from retailers — but without meaningful policy changes, the long-term outlook may still mean more expensive rounds and inconsistent availability of imported ammo brands.

Stay informed, and if you're a shooter or prepper — it may still be wise to stock up when you find a deal.