Guitar industry leaders head to Washington to try to avert “devastating” impact of Trump tariffs
A group of guitar industry leaders have travelled to Washington in an attempt to mitigate the “devastating” impact of Trump’s global tariffs.
The delegation includes NAMM CEO John Mlynczak, Martin’s John McElroy, Taylor Guitars Director of Sustainability Scott Paul, Gibson’s Erin Salmon, PRS Director of Supply Chain Meghan Efland, and Fender Executive Vice President of Product Justin Norvell.
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So far, the group has met with Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty, and plans to meet with “several” other elected leaders to “continue our advocacy work on issues that can impact our industry”.
Since Trump began threatening and imposing heavy tariffs on some of the world’s biggest exporters – China is currently subject to a hefty 145% tariff, for example – many music brands have voiced their concerns about the lasting impact they may have on the health of the industry.
The guitar industry, like so many others, is globally interconnected, and many of the biggest guitar makers have product lines made in tariff-hit countries, and American-made instruments with Chinese components, for example.
Last month, NAMM CEO John Mlynczak issued a lengthy statement noting his concerns about the effect Trump’s tariffs may have on the musical instruments industry.
“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 wrote.
“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 effects of these sudden and unpredictable tariff actions will have a long-term effect on musicians worldwide.”
And back in March, Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews made clear his uncertainty over the future of his brand amid Trump’s aggressive tariff stance.
“We’re gonna have to continue to buy our raw materials from overseas, even with the tariffs,” he said. “Trump’s policy on tariffs will definitely bring very big companies into America for the manufacturing, but small and medium companies, their volume will not be big enough. I’ll have to scratch my chin to think about it – you know, can I still make a profit?”
Read John Mlynczak’s full statement on Trump’s tariffs on the NAMM website.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
