Please note: I hesitated to bring up this topic because of the inherent political weight it carries here in the United States (and this really only applies to those of us in the U.S.). So please—no political comments. Our moderators will remove them.
That said, I feel it’s important to share this, especially for anyone attending Hamvention 2025 or planning a radio or gear purchase in the near future.
Many of you know I have a number of contacts in the amateur radio world, including manufacturers and retailers. While I won’t share names or specific companies, I can tell you there are two common concerns among all of them right now: tariffs and uncertainty.
As of this posting, most amateur radio goods imported into the U.S. from China and Japan are subject to tariffs. These tariffs can increase the price of an item by 24% or more—in some cases, more than doubling the cost, depending on the item and country of origin. One manufacturer mentioned to me, “What impacts us most as hams is stuff [components and final products] generally comes from Japan 24% or China 145%.”
Even U.S.-based manufacturers are feeling the impact. Many rely on components from China simply because there’s no equivalent supply chain available in the States. Another manufacturer told me he recently paid $1,800 for components and was then charged a $2,700 tariff on top of that. When profit margins are already thin, those added costs inevitably get passed on to the customer.
Retailers are seeing this too. Unless something changes, certain products may not be imported at all because tariffs make them unaffordable. According to two different sources in the world of amateur radio retail, this could even affect the availability of the new FTX-1 in the U.S. It’s already a premium-priced radio—would customers be willing to pay 24%+ more than MSRP? Retailers are betting not.
The Uncertainty Factor
Some manufacturers tried to plan ahead by stockpiling components before tariffs took effect. Others are using options like bonded warehouses to hold inventory in hopes that tariffs will be rolled back soon. But many smaller, mom-and-pop manufacturers don’t have the capacity or resources to do this, so they’re forced to deal with tariffs in real time.
The Takeaway
If you’re based in the U.S. and considering a large purchase like a new radio, now might be the time. Tariffs do not affect inventory that’s already Stateside. So if you’re shopping Hamvention next week and buying direct from a vendor and walking away with the product in-hand, you’re likely getting a better deal than you would a few weeks or months down the road if tariffs persist.
Of course, this could all change overnight if tariffs are lifted or reduced—it may become a non-issue. But as things stand today, we’re on the cusp of seeing the real impact of tariffs on amateur radio gear here in the US. Once existing inventory is depleted, expect increased costs to be passed on to the consumer.
Please remember: I consider QRPer a safe haven from political discussions. There are much better places online to explore and debate the politics of this issue—QRPer simply isn’t one of them. Our community has always been welcoming, civil, and focused on what we love: field radio. Thank you in advance for helping keep it that way!