NAMM president and CEO John Mlynczak has once again urged the Trump administration to “exempt musical instruments and accessories, along with materials used to manufacture musical products” from the tariffs announced in President Trump’s recent executive orders.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump rolled out a fresh wave of tariffs aimed at reducing the US trade deficit – a move that sent shockwaves across global industries, including the music products sector. Given how many American brands rely on overseas manufacturing, or on importing key materials not readily available in the US such as certain tonewoods or metals to manufacture their gear, it’s not hard to see why.
Under Trump’s new plan, imports from countries like Vietnam could face tariffs as high as 46% – a move the NAMM executive previously warned will have “devastating consequences” for the music products industry.
In response to mounting pushback, Trump has since announced a 90-day pause on what he’s calling “reciprocal” tariffs, essentially delaying enforcement of certain measures until 9 July. Tariffs already aimed at China, however, remain in effect.
Addressing the move in a new statement, Mlynczak welcomed the pause but stressed that the broader uncertainty is already taking a toll: “The negative effects of these measures threaten the economic and cultural impact of US-made musical instruments and accessories, as well as cause our US music products industry to lose its global competitive advantage in producing high-quality products, especially at professional and entry levels,” he says.
“The 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs announced last week via executive order (until July 9) is a welcomed measure, but the continued unpredictability of these tariff actions makes it difficult for companies to react in a meaningful way.”
“The back-and-forth raising of tariffs between the US and Chinese governments that we have witnessed this past week will have serious business implications and create consumer turmoil for the music products industry,” the statement continues. “The effects of these sudden and unpredictable tariff actions will have a long-term effect on musicians worldwide.”
In addition, last week also saw NAMM sending a letter in support of US-based acoustic stringed instrument manufacturers, urging the US Secretary of Commerce not to recommend additional tariffs on imported tonewoods.
“These tonewoods are often impossible to grow in the US, and they are used to create many iconic music products for American brands,” says the NAMM CEO.
Billboard reporter Kristin Robinson previously broke down how the new taxes could impact the music gear and vinyl pressing industries. She pointed out that bands have faced difficulty bringing unsold merchandise back to the US from international tours, as these also face tariffs, unless the artist is selling only American-made merch. Vinyl prices will likely be hit as well, as the materials used to make them are from overseas countries, including PVC and their paper sleeves.
