Bosnian Ammo Manufacturers Plan for Uncertain Future Amid U.S. Tariffs

In Gorazde, Bosnia, ammunition makers fear for their survival due to new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. With uncertainty surrounding export rates, companies like Ginex are faced with stalling expansion plans and potentially losing access to their largest market, the U.S.

Under the looming shadow of tariffs from the United States, ammunition manufacturers in the town of Gorazde in eastern Bosnia are bracing for a turbulent future. Once resilient in the face of the Balkan Wars, businesses like Ginex and Pobjeda Technology now face a pressing economic threat as new tariffs hinder their exports to America, their most significant market.

Over the course of several decades, the ammunition industry in Gorazde established itself, supplying military-grade munitions during the conflict in the early 1990s. However, with President Trump’s recent trade policies, the stability of this sector is now in jeopardy. Tariffs, which were initially set high in early April and then adjusted, could substantially affect businesses’ profit margins and export viability.

Demir Imamovic, marketing manager at Ginex, articulated the anxiety gripping local producers, expressing concerns over whether potential tariffs could reach as high as 35%. “It would stop all our exports,” Imamovic stated, highlighting the challenges posed not just by high tariffs but the fear that even revised rates could deter American clients.

Gorazde's ammunition makers are not only up against tariffs but also grappling with the unpredictability of future trade policies. As they search for clarity about the levels of tariffs that will apply, there remains the pressing question: How will these changes impact their ability to stay afloat and drive growth in an already unstable market? The community watches closely, aware that their fate hangs in the balance of international trade negotiations.