Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

11 August 2026, 17:09 | Updated: 12 August 2026, 16:38

Critics are shocked by the brass neck of it.

This week, the Trump administration declared tubas, trombones, trumpets, and French horns a national security threat.

Yes, really. Brass instruments could soon face a 25% tariff on imports, parts, and accessories, as part of a wider push to expand tariffs on aluminium, steel, and copper.

The six-page proposal, published this week by the Department of Commerce, uses the words “national security” nine times.

The administration argues that relying on imported metals could reduce demand for American-made materials, leaving the US with less domestic production and fewer critical supplies in the event of a national emergency.

And because brass instruments are made mostly from copper and zinc, they have been swept into the same net as fire extinguishers, floor safes, electrical cables, welding-machine parts, and tanker trailers.

In total, 14 categories could face tariffs under Section 232, which allows the president to restrict imports deemed a threat to the country’s security.

So, apparently, the tuba is now a matter of national defence.

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The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader tariff strategy, which it says will encourage people to buy American-made goods and attract investment from foreign companies.

Trump has previously used Section 232 to impose tariffs on products including sofas, knives, and even deodorant, because they contain aluminium. A real stinker of a policy.

Tariffs have already pushed up the cost of musical instruments in the US.

According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), the tariff rate on all musical instruments reached 16.6% in the first quarter of 2026 - around three times the rate in 2024.

The steep tariffs have resulted in Americans buying fewer musical instruments. Imports have dropped 9% since last year and 20% from 2024, with brass instruments down by as much as 27% compared to 2025.

And the price difference can be huge. PIIE estimates that a US-made French horn costs nearly $5,000, while an imported Chinese model can sell for around $600.

The new 25% tariff could put further pressure on prices, particularly for schools, community music programmes and families buying beginner instruments. Many entry-level and intermediate brass instruments sold in the US are made overseas because domestic production cannot meet demand.

For example, a 25% tariff on a $500 imported trumpet would add $125 to the importer’s costs before shipping, distribution and retail mark-ups. How much of that eventually reaches the customer would depend on how much manufacturers, importers and retailers choose to absorb.

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Critics are brassed off, and made no bones about criticising the move. Some say that the administration is stretching the definition of national security by treating musical instruments as a potential threat to the US.

John Mlynczak, president and CEO of the National Association of Music Merchants told the Washington Times that there was “no logical” reason for musical products to be considered a national security risk.

“The amount of brass and copper we are using to make music products is inconsequential,” he said. “As important as our industry is, when you actually look at the pure amount of materials in an industry of our size, it’s fractions of a fraction of a fraction of a percent.”

So while the administration may be blowing its own trumpet, critics say this particular national security threat is looking like a lot of hot air.

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