TARIFFS - WHERE NOW?

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Apr 8, 2025

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.019

TL;DR

2025 US tariffs create pricing uncertainty and supply chain strain across global pinball industry

Summary

A comprehensive analysis of how 2025 US tariffs affect pinball manufacturing globally. The article explains the supply chain complexities of pinball production, notes that tariffs on imported components and finished machines will increase prices, and details how specific manufacturers (Barrels of Fun, Dutch Pinball) are responding. Key challenges include uncertainty about tariff persistence, potential retaliatory tariffs on US components, and the possibility of European manufacturers assembling games domestically to avoid tariffs.

Key Claims

EU imposed a 25% tariff on pinball machines entering the European Economic Area in 2020 as retaliation for US tariffs on EU goods
high confidence · Historical reference with linked documentation from November 2020
Barrels of Fun already has the vast majority of parts needed for their second title (launching ~1 week from article date) and will be less impacted by new tariffs
high confidence · Direct statement from manufacturer quoted in article with screenshot
Dutch Pinball Exclusive states Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will be 20% more expensive for US buyers due to 20% tariffs on EU products
high confidence · Official company statement with screenshot
Dutch Pinball has deferred US shipments hoping tariffs will be removed before delivery
high confidence · Directly stated in article with supporting screenshot
Pinball manufacturers source components globally due to cost, availability, quality, and US capacity limitations
high confidence · Detailed explanation of supply chain factors including wood sourcing from Northern Europe/Canada, electronics from Far East
Some European manufacturers are exploring assembling games within the US to avoid or reduce tariff exposure
medium confidence · Referenced as reported multiple times in Pinball News/Magazine PIN*cast but not detailed in this article

Notable Quotes

“Pinball manufacturing, like most manufacturing, is a global business. Even those making games within the US source a large number of their components from outside the country.”
Article author @ N/A — Establishes core premise that tariffs will broadly impact all pinball manufacturers regardless of location
“You might almost call them 'unpresidented'.”
Article author @ Opening — Wordplay commentary on tariff situation; sets editorial tone
“An increase in the cost of the components doesn't directly correlate to an equivalent increase in the price of the finished product.”
Article author @ N/A — Suggests manufacturer margin flexibility may soften some price increases
“Not surprisingly, many US buyers with non-refundable deposits are not happy about that 'somebody' being them.”
Article author @ N/A — Highlights consumer frustration with tariff pass-through on pre-orders
“As with stock markets, uncertainty is the greatest concern. Nobody wants to jump into making a significant investment decision for their business based on new tariffs which could be cut or removed completely overnight with the stroke of a pen on a presidential executive order.”
Article author @ N/A — Core insight: unpredictability is the primary business risk, not the tariffs themselves

Entities

Barrels of FuncompanyDutch Pinball ExclusivecompanyAlice's Adventures in Wonderlandgame Pinball Brotherscompany Heighway Pinballcompany HomePincompany Pedretti Gamingcompany

Signals

?
business_signal: Uncertainty about tariff duration and potential reciprocal tariffs creating hesitation in manufacturer investment decisions; manufacturers waiting to see if tariffs persist before responding
high · Article states 'Many companies are waiting to see what reciprocal tariffs, if any, are imposed on US products before commenting' and 'uncertainty is the greatest concern'
?
business_signal: European manufacturers exploring domestic US assembly operations to mitigate tariff exposure
medium · Article references previous Pinball News/Magazine PIN*cast reporting on this strategy but does not provide current specific examples
?
business_signal: 2025 US tariffs on imported pinball machines and components creating widespread pricing uncertainty and supply chain disruption across global pinball industry
high · Article details tariff impacts on multiple manufacturers and supply chains; confirmed by statements from Barrels of Fun and Dutch Pinball
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market_signal: Barrels of Fun second game launch (~1 week out) insulated from tariff impact due to pre-tariff component inventory, but manufacturer acknowledges temporary nature of position
high · Barrels of Fun official statement: 'already have the vast majority of the parts needed' and 'may need to adjust pricing at some point should the new tariffs persist'
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market_signal: Potential retaliatory tariffs on US-made pinball components (flipper mechs, pop bumpers, etc.) affecting non-US manufacturers who source from US suppliers
medium · Article discusses 'double-whammy' scenario where non-US manufacturers pay tariffs on US parts imports and then face tariffs when selling completed games to US

Topics

Trade tariffs and import dutiesprimaryGlobal supply chain and manufacturingprimaryPricing impact and cost pass-throughprimaryBusiness uncertainty and risk mitigationprimaryComponent sourcing logisticssecondaryManufacturer response strategiessecondaryHistorical tariff precedent (2020)secondaryUS vs non-US manufacturer competitive positioningsecondary

Sentiment

negative(-0.72)— Article tone is concerned and cautionary about tariff impacts. While written neutrally and factually, the underlying message is pessimistic: tariffs will increase costs, create pricing uncertainty, force difficult business decisions, and potentially trigger a cascade of retaliatory tariffs. The closing statement 'nothing is certain any longer' reinforces negative outlook. However, some mitigating factors noted (component costs don't directly correlate to finished product price; some manufacturers have stock buffers) prevent absolute negativity.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

These are strange times for global trade and the imposition of import tariffs. You might almost call them ‘unpresidented’. Except that we’ve been here before, albeit on a smaller scale. It was [back in November 2020](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2020/11/12/eu-imposes-pinball-tariff/) that a dispute about subsidies given to European aircraft manufacturer Airbus led to a trade dispute between the US (home of Airbus competitor, Boeing) and the European Union. The US imposed tariffs on wine, cheese and whisky, amongst other products, imported from the EU as punishment for what it considered illegal subsidies. In retaliation, the EU imposed a 25% tariff on certain US goods, including pinball machines, entering the European Economic Area. Although the UK had officially left the EU by that point, it was still in a transitionary period where it abided by EU economic Ryan Policky. That trans-Atlantic spat lasted until [an agreement was reached](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3001) in June the following year which suspended those tariffs for a minimum period of five years. However, the dispute demonstrated the then US leader’s expeditious use of tariffs to punish what he perceived as unfair trade practices. The US President then was the same as the US President now. Which brings us to 2025 and a much wider use of US tariffs against, well, just about everyone. And, once again, pinball is certainly not immune to the consequences. Pinball manufacturing, like most manufacturing, is a global business. Even those making games within the US source a large number of their components from outside the country. There are multiple reasons for that. Sometimes, those parts are simply far cheaper to buy from other countries. Plastic moulded parts for sculpts or toppers, for instance, may be prohibitively expensive if bought from US suppliers due to labour, material and property rental costs. Other times, there just aren’t US manufacturers making those specific parts. Microcontrollers, LEDs, display panels, power supplies, and individual circuit board components are all typically sourced from the Far East where the required skills, equipment and raw materials are concentrated. There are also quality concerns. Wood for pinball cabinets, backboxes and playfield often comes from countries with more northerly latitudes such as Canada, Scandinavia or Eastern Europe in order to obtain the required hardness and grain density. Softer wood would dent more easily, be less temperature and humidity resistant, and show more of the grain through the ink and clearcoat. Then there is a lack of capacity in the US. Certain products require specialist production techniques which means those businesses are only able manufacture a limited quantity of their products. It would take years of upscaling along with the requisite investment capital and personnel recruitment, combined with the surety of ongoing increased demand to comfortably expand that capacity. All of which means any increase in existing tariffs or imposition of new tariffs on those products made overseas and imported into the US will undeniably result in increased prices for US-based manufacturers. Some will already have good inventory purchased pre-tariffs to build their games for the next few months, but companies launching new titles now or very soon will be hard pressed to hold enough stock to completely avoid the new tariffs. Stock requires storage space – which costs money – and also represents capital tied up until the finished product is sold. Barrels of Fun are in just that position. Their second title launches in around a week’s time, but they say they already have the vast majority of the parts needed to build it, so will be less impacted by the new tariffs. However, even they concede that this position may only be temporary, and they may need to adjust pricing at some point should the new tariffs persist. [![Barrels of Fun's statement](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/comment/tariffs-2025/001-tariffs-2025.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/comment/tariffs-2025/001-tariffs-2025.jpg) Barrels of Fun’s statement Fortunately, the overall price of a pinball machine is determined by many costs, including staff employment, manufacturing systems, premises costs and promotional activities. So, an increase in the cost of the components doesn’t directly correlate to an equivalent increase in the price of the finished product. Then there are the non-US pinball manufacturers for whom the US represents their largest single market. Their games, when sold within the US, will attract the new tariffs making their games consequently more expensive in that one country compared to the rest of the world. Dutch Pinball Exclusive in the Netherlands have already said the price of their *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* game will be 20% higher for US buyers as a direct result of the 20% tariffs imposed on EU products. They have deferred shipments to the US in the hope the tariffs will be removed before those US-bound games have to be delivered. [![Dutch Pinball's statement](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/comment/tariffs-2025/002-tariffs-2025.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/comment/tariffs-2025/002-tariffs-2025.jpg) Dutch Pinball’s statement Dutch Pinball themselves aren’t increasing their prices to the US or anywhere else, but when their games enter the US a 20% tariff is imposed that somebody has to pay. Not surprisingly, many US buyers with non-refundable deposits are not happy about that ‘somebody’ being them. At the time of writing there is no word from Pedretti Gaming, Pinball Brothers, Homepin, Hexa Pinball, Bitronic, Vector Pinball or Pinball Adventures about their response to the new tariffs. Many companies are waiting to see what reciprocal tariffs, if any, are imposed on US products before commenting. If they persist, though, tough decisions will need to be made. And it may not just be machines being sold into the US which are affected. As retaliatory tariffs begin to be imposed by other countries on US-made products, the price of some basic pinball components made in the US but used by non-US manufacturers, such as flipper mechs, pop bumpers, ball guides, inserts, balls, legs, side rails, lock bars and hinges, may all rise in price. As a ‘double-whammy’ for those game makers, they might pay a new import tariff on US-made parts they import to use in their machine, and their complete game is then subject to another tariff if sold back to US buyers. As we reported several times in the [Pinball News and Pinball Magazine Pinball Industry News PIN*cast*](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/category/audio/pincasts/), it is little surprise that some European manufacturers are exploring the possibility of assembling games for US buyers within the country to avoid, or at least reduce their exposure to, the new tariffs. For now, it’s a difficult time for all pinball makers. As with stock markets, uncertainty is the greatest concern. Nobody wants to jump into making a significant investment decision for their business based on new tariffs which could be cut or removed completely overnight with the stroke of a pen on a presidential executive order. If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that nothing is certain any longer.