Moog Music says U.S.-China trade war threatens Asheville jobs

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The looming U.S.-China trade war is threatening manufacturing jobs in Asheville, says Moog Music, which makes synthesizers here. In it’s latest newsletter, Moog is asking supporters to write elected officials and implore them to tell President Trump to back off. Here’s the note from Moog, and a form letter they’re asking supporters to sign and send.

The Moog Music newsletter:

25% Tariff On Chinese Goods Threatens Our Jobs
Dear Moog Family,

We need your help.

A U.S. tariff (import tax) on Chinese circuit boards and associated components is expected to take effect on July 6, 2018.

These tariffs will immediately and drastically increase the cost of building our instruments, and have the very real potential of forcing us to lay off workers and could (in a worst case scenario) require us to move some, if not all, of our manufacturing overseas.

There is one thing all of us can do together to try and stop this: Write to our elected officials.

We ask that you will support us by imploring our elected officials to recognize that these tariffs are seriously harmful to American businesses like Moog.

Step 1:
Copy the form letter below
Step 2:
Add recipient name to form letter from list of NC representatives
Step 3:
Legibly print and sign your name at bottom of form letter
Step 4:
Send to NC reps using the addresses and contact links below

We wholeheartedly thank you for your time and your support.

Love,
Your friends at Moog

North Carolina Congressional Representatives:

Mark Meadows
1024 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6401

Patrick McHenry
160 Midland Avenue
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 669-0600

North Carolina Senators:

Richard Burr
151 Patton Avenue
Suite 204
Asheville, NC 28801
https://www.burr.senate.gov/contact/email – Choose topic “TRADE”
(828) 350-2437

Thom Tillis
185 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
https://www.tillis.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me – Choose topic “TRADE”
(202) 224-6342

Here’s the Moog Music form letter:

Dear (Congressman or Representative):

I am writing you on behalf of Moog Music, a company of 100 employee-owners, based in Asheville, North Carolina. I am urgently contacting you about the recently announced 25% tariff on Chinese goods.

In case you are not familiar with Moog, they manufacture the world’s leading analog synthesizers used by artists including but not limited to Michael Jackson,The Beatles, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder and many others.

Roughly half of the circuit boards and associated components for Moog’s instruments come from China. This tariff would significantly limit their ability to manufacture synthesizers, and could put many of their employee-owners out of a job.

As an employee-owned company with a 60-year legacy in American manufacturing, Moog constantly strives to keep a balance between domestically- and internationally-sourced parts, so that they can continue employing people from their local community in Asheville, North Carolina.

Moog sources circuit boards from US suppliers whenever possible, paying up to 30% over the price of the same circuit boards made overseas. However, whether they buy circuit boards in the US or overseas, the majority of the raw components still come from China. Therefore, Moog will be unable to avoid this substantial cost increase because of the tariffs.

These tariffs will immediately and drastically increase the cost of building Moog instruments, forcing them to lay off American workers and will require Moog to move some, if not all, of their manufacturing overseas.

I do not want to see the end of Moog’s 60-year legacy in American manufacturing. I do not want their employee-owners left without jobs. I want American workers to continue have the opportunity to support their families and their community.

I implore you to convince the President that these Chinese tariffs cause serious damage to American workers like those at Moog and to rescind them immediately.

Thank you,

(Your Name)

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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