When David Levi was laid off a few years ago, he turned to his theremin.
The electronic instrument, which musicians play by waving their hands between two “antennas,” became the inspiration for a business, MicroKits. Today, the Virginia-based company sells electronic kits that people can use to build their own theremin – learning about electronics and music in the process.
The problem for MicroKits is that most of the electronic components it uses for those kits are made in China. Levi represents one of several small- and medium-sized businesses that have brought the fight over the tariffs to the nation’s highest court.
Other companies include a New York-based wine and spirits importer and an Illinois-based educational toy company.
Levi told CNN that his production rate is down about 40% because of the tariffs. The biggest problem, Levi said, is the uncertainty.
“It’s hard to make business decisions when there’s no warning,” he said.
Levi said he is concerned about the impact on his business if the court sides with Trump in the case.
“More importantly,” he said, “a bunch of kids, instead of building a circuit for the first time this Christmas, maybe they’ll just watch more videos on the internet.”
