Trump Administration Proposes 25% Tariff on Brass Instruments

The Department of Commerce has issued a six-page notice invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to add wood-brass instruments—tubas, trombones, trumpets, French horns—and their parts to the list of imports subject to national-security tariffs. If finalized, the measure would impose a 25 percent duty on these items, joining 13 other categories such as fire extinguishers and electrical cables that the administration deems potential threats to domestic supply chains.

Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

Officials argue that reliance on imported copper and zinc for brass instruments could diminish demand for American-made metals, leaving the United States vulnerable in a national emergency. The proposal was announced three days after the Conn Selmer factory in Ohio—owned by Trump donor John Paulson—shut its doors and shifted much of its production to China, a move that eliminated 150 jobs.

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• The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) reports that the overall tariff rate on musical instruments rose to 16.6 percent in the first quarter of 2026, roughly three times the 2024 level.

Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

• PIIE estimates imports of wind instruments fell 27 percent in 2025, and overall instrument imports have dropped 9 percent since the previous year and 20 percent since 2024, with brass instruments down by as much as 27 percent compared with 2025.

Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

• A US-made French horn is priced near $5,000, while an imported Chinese model can sell for about $600.

Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

• Applying a 25 percent tariff to a $500 imported trumpet would add $125 to the importer’s cost before additional mark-ups, potentially raising retail prices for schools, community programs, and families.

Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

Janet Horvath, a cello player with the Minnesota Orchestra, described the proposal as “disturbing news” for players of the affected instruments.

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Critics argue that the tariff could undercut the pipeline of 25 million American students who learn music through affordable school-band programs, thereby weakening demand for higher-end, domestically produced instruments.

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• “Disturbing news for trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba players,” — Janet Horvath

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