Music Tectonics Strings Attached: The Impact of Tariffs on Music and Culture with Cullen Hendrix
Jul 9, 2025
Cullen Hendrix, a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former touring musician, dives into the impact of tariffs on musical instruments. He discusses how rising tariffs on Chinese imports could hinder the next generation of musicians and disrupt the used instrument market. Hendrix also explores the broader cultural ramifications of these policies, challenging the narrative of American manufacturing. The conversation reveals the intricate relationship between trade, music accessibility, and the future of American music culture.
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Cullen Hendrix's Music Roots
- Cullen Hendrix's family is deeply involved with music; his father collects guitars and his brother is a guitar tech.
- He himself has been a touring drummer since his teens, blending his music passion with his political science work.
Globalized Musical Instrument Market
- Over a third of musical instrument imports to the U.S. come from China, covering 15-20% of the total retail market.
- The industry is highly globalized, with imports from various countries and re-exports of American-made instruments abroad.
China's Role In Beginner Instruments
- China dominates the U.S. market for beginner-level woodwind, brass, stringed, and rock band instruments.
- High-end, handcrafted instruments remain expensive and mostly produced outside of this low-priced mass entry market.