Business Compliance

On July 24, 2026 — the very day a sweeping new set of Section 301 forced-labor tariffs took effect — NAMM convened its recurring expert panel to walk members through what changed overnight, what it means for the music products industry and what actions can be taken. As always, the discussion was for educational purposes only. Joining the conversation were: Chris Cushing, Managing Partner, Washington, D.C. office of Nelson Mullins (NAMM's outside trade counsel of 20 years) Cullen Hendrix, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics Dan Anthony, President, T

July 6, 2026 The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the leading nonprofit trade association for the global music products industry, this week filed two formal written comments with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), continuing the association’s sustained advocacy for tariff relief on behalf of music makers, music retailers, American instrument manufacturers and school music programs nationwide. The filings, submitted in response to Federal Register notices published by USTR, address two separate federal trade proceedings and build on the deta

June 8, 2026 What You Need to Know: NAMM's Tariff Update for the Music Products Industry The tariff landscape is moving fast, and the decisions made in the next few weeks will have lasting consequences for the music products industry. At the June 5 policy webinar, NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak joined Associate Director of Public Policy Claire Kreger-Boaz and trade experts Chris Cushing, Cullen Hendrix and Dan Anthony to break down where things stand, what's coming and what the industry can do right now. WATCH JUNE 5 WEBINAR NAMM's Position Broad tariff actions harm A

May 22, 2026 For five days in May, the music products industry made Washington, D.C., its home — and Capitol Hill its stage. This year’s NAMM Advocacy D.C. Fly-In marked the 20th anniversary of the event, as 100 member delegates and partners from 74 companies representing all 50 states came to Capitol Hill with two goals: ask Congress to protect federal funding for music education and request tariff exemptions for musical instruments, along with the components and raw materials used to make them. What unfolded was a demonstration of what organized, passionate, industry-wide advoca

Significant changes to international trade requirements for pernambuco (Paubrasilia echinata) were adopted at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20), held in November and December 2025. NAMM actively participated in negotiations at CoP20 and sponsored a side event for delegates, ensuring the music products industry's perspective was represented throughout the process. What Changed Pernambuco has been listed under CITES Appendix II since September 13, 2007. At CoP20, Part

March 31, 2026 For two decades, music industry leaders and education champions have made the journey to Washington, D.C., to do something deceptively simple: talk with their elected representatives. This May, that tradition continues when NAMM convenes its 20th Annual D.C. Fly-In, bringing together delegates from across the country for four days of training, community and action.   Scheduled for May 10-14, the Fly-In marks a milestone anniversary for one of the music industry's most distinctive advocacy traditions. What began as a modest gathering of industry voices has grown into

March 16, 2026 We know you are following the news and wondering how policies and global conflicts are impacting our industry. Our NAMM policy team, led by Claire Kreger-Boaz and in constant consultation with our long-time lobby partner Nelson Mullins, has been hard at work! We are monitoring, educating, consulting, and taking action on issues ranging from education policy to tariffs. As we look toward our annual D.C. Fly-In event in May, we want to update you on our activities and recent strategic meetings in Washington, D.C., involving members of Congress and their staff. The 20t

November 12, 2025 NAMM and our collaborators at the League of American Orchestras facilitated unprecedented international collaboration since the last meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) between musicians, instrument makers, orchestras and music industry associations spanning North America, Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. The music sector is aligned in its stance that sustainable businesses practices for Brazilian Paubrasilia echinata, or pernambuco wood, is necessary to protect the species, allow musicians to travel internationally with their instruments and

May 28, 2025 The European Commission has unveiled its new country risk classification under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), categorizing nations as low, standard or high risk based on their deforestation levels. This classification determines the level of due diligence required from companies importing such commodities as wood, cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil and beef into the EU. EUDR is a law passed by the European Union to prevent products linked to deforestation and forest degradation from entering the EU market. It requires companies to ensure that certain commodities —

May 15, 2025  Driven by a shared belief in the transformative power of music education, NAMM members gathered in Washington, D.C., this spring to raise their voices in unity for the next generation of music makers. From May 5–8, a coalition of more than 90 NAMM members and partners representing all 50 U.S. states, congregated in our nation’s capital as part of NAMM’s 19th Advocacy D.C. Fly-In. Their goal was to meet face-to-face with their members of Congress and/or their staff and make the request to support federal funding for music education. Without funding, students across th

April 15, 2025 On March 31, 2025, NAMM filed comments to the Federal Register in response to the March 1 Executive Order tasking the Secretary of Commerce to investigate whether there is a connection between importing timber and lumber and threats to national security.  Under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, President Trump gave the Department of Commerce 270 days from the March 1 order to provide a determination on whether importing timber and lumber threatens national security, and, if so, to provide recommendations for mitigating the threat through tariffs or oth

February 12, 2025 NAMM continues to support member companies globally by investing in the critical work of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Whether you manufacture or sell affected products, NAMM is working to support you to ensure the products we depend on can continue to be manufactured, sold and used within the CITES regulations. NAMM was represented at the CITES Standing Committee meeting, a key gathering in Geneva, Switzerland, in preparation for the Conference of the Parties (CoP), which is scheduled in November 202