Taxing the Music
Impact of Tariffs on Musical Instruments
Updated May 14, 2026

Where Things Stand Now
As of this update, the tariff situation is still changing quickly, but the broad picture is clearer than it was in February.

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court struck down the bulk of the IEEPA-based tariffs that had been driving many of the 2025 tariff headlines. That did not remove every tariff. Normal category tariffs are still in place. Section 301 tariffs on many Chinese goods are still in place. Section 232 tariffs, where applicable, are still in place. What changed is that the IEEPA-based “reciprocal” and fentanyl tariff layers were ordered to end.

In their place, the Administration created a temporary 10% global import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Section 122 allows a temporary import surcharge of up to 15%, but the actual published surcharge is 10%. This surcharge began February 24, 2026 and is scheduled to expire after 150 days, currently July 24, 2026, unless Congress extends it or another legal mechanism replaces it.

There has already been a court challenge to this 10% Section 122 surcharge. A trade court ruled against it, but an appeals court has temporarily paused that ruling while the appeal proceeds. So for practical pricing purposes, the 10% surcharge is still being collected for now, but it is legally unsettled.

Important Disclaimer
I am not a lawyer or customs broker. This post is written from the perspective of someone in the music industry trying to explain how tariffs affect the musical instruments and accessories that customers see in stores. Exact tariff treatment can vary by product classification, country of origin, entry date, and future court or government action, so the numbers below should be understood as our best practical reading at the time of this update – not as legal advice.

The Short Version

• Normal category tariffs still apply to imported musical instruments and accessories.
• The temporary global surcharge is currently 10%, not 15%.
• The 10% global surcharge is temporary and legally challenged, but it is still being collected for now.
• IEEPA reciprocal and fentanyl tariffs were ended after the Supreme Court ruling.
• China Section 301 tariffs still apply where the product’s HTS classification is covered.
• Some country agreements may still matter, especially Taiwan, Japan, the EU, and Indonesia, but the cleanest working number for many non-special countries is category tariff + the current 10% Section 122 surcharge.

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What is a tariff anyways?

A tariff is a tax imposed by a government on goods imported from other countries, typically calculated as a percentage of the imported goods’ value. This is based on the imported cost – not on the price you see at the music store.

So if you see a 20% tariff on something, that does not mean you should automatically expect a 20% increase to the sale price that you pay. It is a 20% increase of the importer’s cost on that item. The importer or distributor then builds their selling price from that combined cost before selling it through their distribution channel.

This is in theory done to try and give domestically made products an advantage over imports. However, as much of the music industry has moved out of domestic production for one reason or another, tariffs impact a very large percentage of the products used in our industry.

How much product in the industry is impacted?

Honestly, a lot. Much of the product in the woodwind and brasswind segment of the music industry is imported, and tariffs have a lasting impact on the industry and the equipment we use.

The most common countries of manufacture in our industry are China, Taiwan, France, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, the United Kingdom, and other EU countries. There is some gear made in the USA of course, but the majority of our industry, especially student and intermediate instruments, is manufactured overseas.

All imported products in our industry start with their normal category tariff. So regardless of where they are made, if they are imported into the United States, they generally start with the following category tariffs:

• Woodwind Instruments: 4.9%
• Brasswind Instruments: 2.9%
• Orchestral Stringed Instruments: 3.2%
• Instrument Cases: commonly 4.2%, depending on exact material and HTS classification
• Parts & Accessories: varies by exact HTS classification. Some common music accessory categories may be around 3.5%, but this should be verified by product.

All of these category tariffs remain in place. The current 10% Section 122 surcharge, and any other surviving country-specific tariff, is added on top of the applicable category tariff unless a specific agreement or exclusion changes the calculation.

To see a more detailed breakdown on how this impacts products in a specific country relevant to the music industry, select the country below. I will update these listings as new legal rulings, deals, or deadlines come into effect.

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So how does this impact pricing?

As China is still one of the biggest tariff-impact countries for our industry, let’s look at how these tariffs impact a Chinese-made musical instrument.

Let’s look at a clarinet made in China that has a factory level cost of $500. In 2024, a typical tariff number for that example might have been 12.4% total, made up of 4.9% woodwind category tariff + 7.5% China Section 301 tariff. That would be about $62 in tariff on a $500 import cost.

Under the current working rate, that same Chinese-made clarinet would be 4.9% category tariff + 7.5% China Section 301 tariff + 10% Section 122 surcharge = 22.4%. On a $500 factory cost, that is about $112 in tariff. That is an increase of about $50 to the importer compared with the older 12.4% calculation.

So how does that impact you? It depends on how the distributor chooses to apply this increase.

Profit Margin Based Increase
If this $500 clarinet goes through a distributor who is choosing to double their investment, the math would look like this: $500 factory cost + $112 tariff = $612 landed cost before other expenses. If the distributor doubles that cost, the dealer cost becomes $1,224. If the retailer then works on a 30% profit margin, the final selling price would land around $1,749.

Pre-Tariff Margin Based Increase
In this scenario, the distributor only passes along the additional tariff amount rather than trying to make a profit on that new tariff. So the distributor might keep the older pre-tariff margin math and then add the new tariff cost difference. The old tariff was about $62 and the current tariff is about $112, so the added cost is about $50. Depending on how each layer of distribution treats that $50, the customer impact could be smaller than a full margin-based increase.

Neither scenario looks great for the end consumer, but this is the practical reality. Tariffs do not always translate dollar-for-dollar to the retail price, but they absolutely change the cost foundation of imported goods.

What are we going to do?

Obviously, this is a volatile subject and it is still evolving.

Many manufacturers and distributors are going to choose to absorb some of the tariffs, at least for a limited period of time. Others will react quickly with price increases or tariff surcharges. It depends on the country, product, importer, distributor, and timing of existing inventory.

Manufacturer / Brand Response

Many distributors and manufacturers have made statements to dealers regarding tariffs, but as these are confidential in nature, we cannot publicly post them. In the end, prices are going up in many areas. Some increases are labeled as “tariff surcharges,” which implies they may go down if the tariff goes away. Others are simply price increases.

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Kessler Custom & Solist Product

We sit in a unique position because we are not only a retailer, but we also import directly. That is why we have this insight. We import directly from China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, depending on the product. We are watching all of this very closely and will make adjustments as cost and timing dictate.

As new rulings, deadlines, or agreements take effect, we will reassess our product offerings and adjust accordingly. We remain committed to providing exceptional quality and value in our products.

So that you have a better inside look at these costs, here is where our items are made and the current tariff status of each. We will update this post as things change.

Kessler Custom Saxophones – made in Vietnam

• 4.9% normal category tariff for woodwinds.
• Current Section 122 working rate: 4.9% + 10% = 14.9% total combined tariff.
• If a Vietnam 20% agreement/framework rate is applied or returns: 4.9% + 20% = 24.9% total combined tariff.
• We will continue to reassess. We may make changes to the product line to help minimize tariff impact. For instance, on Handmade Series saxes, we may use a more standard case rather than an upgraded case. This lowers our import cost and therefore lowers the tariff cost on the import, helping soften the need for consumer price increases. We may also discontinue certain expensive finish options, such as Antiqued Matte Lacquer on Standard Series horns, if needed.

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Kessler Custom Trumpets – made in Taiwan

• 2.9% normal category tariff for brasswinds.
• Taiwan agreement reading: 15% total tariff for most covered Taiwanese goods with an MFN/category rate below 15%.
• Section 122-only fallback: 2.9% + 10% = 12.9% total combined tariff.
• For pricing purposes, the safer public-facing number is 15% total. If that treatment changes, the fallback Section 122 math would be close for woodwinds and lower for brasswinds.

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Kessler Custom Trombones & Euphoniums – made in China

• 2.9% normal category tariff for brasswinds.
• 7.5% China Section 301 tariff still applies where the HTS line is covered.
• 10% current Section 122 surcharge is currently being collected.
• Current working combined rate: 2.9% + 7.5% + 10% = 20.4% total on covered Chinese brasswinds.

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Kessler Custom Clarinets, Flutes, Double Reeds – made in China

• 4.9% normal category tariff for woodwinds.
• 7.5% China Section 301 tariff still applies where the HTS line is covered.
• 10% current Section 122 surcharge is currently being collected.
• Current working combined rate: 4.9% + 7.5% + 10% = 22.4% total on covered Chinese woodwinds.

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Solist Woodwinds (saxes, flutes, clarinets) – made in China

• 4.9% normal category tariff for woodwinds.
• 7.5% China Section 301 tariff still applies where the HTS line is covered.
• 10% current Section 122 surcharge is currently being collected.
• Current working combined rate: 4.9% + 7.5% + 10% = 22.4% total on covered Chinese woodwinds.

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Solist Brasswinds (trumpets, trombones) – made in China

• 2.9% normal category tariff for brasswinds.
• 7.5% China Section 301 tariff still applies where the HTS line is covered.
• 10% current Section 122 surcharge is currently being collected.
• Current working combined rate: 2.9% + 7.5% + 10% = 20.4% total on covered Chinese brasswinds.

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Final Thoughts

This has been a long road. While this all went into high gear in April 2025 with “Liberation Day,” tariffs have been part of the math for a long time. This has simply been the most chaotic and newsworthy version of tariffs that most of us have ever experienced.

As of today’s edit, May 14, 2026, the simplest practical summary is this: the IEEPA tariffs were struck down and ordered ended, but a temporary 10% Section 122 surcharge has replaced them for now. That surcharge is being challenged in court, but it is still being collected while the appeal proceeds. Meanwhile, older tariff structures like normal category tariffs and China Section 301 tariffs still matter.

So yes, it is still confusing. It is still changing. And as always, stop reading and go practice.