US furniture, cabinet and lumber tariffs go into effect

Tariffs up to 25 per cent on kitchen cabinets, lumber and some upholstered furniture objects are now in effect in the US, following a proclamation released in late September by the Trump Administration.

Originally broadcast via a Truth Social post by US president Donald Trump and confirmed by a White House proclamation released on 29 September, the tariffs on "imports of timber, lumber, and their derivative products" took effect on 14 October following a two-week delay from its original 1 October start date.

The proclamation states that kitchen cabinets and vanities, as well as "parts imported for use in kitchen cabinets and vanities", will be tariffed, as well as upholstered wood furniture such as "couches, sofas and chairs".

Tariffs will raise further in January

According to a fact sheet released by the government, the suite of tariffs includes a 10 per cent global tariff on imports of softwood lumber, a 25 per cent global tariff on certain upholstered furniture, both set to increase 30 per cent on 1 January.

A 25 per cent global tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities also went into effect, which is set to rise to 50 per cent on 1 January.

The tariffs follow an executive order released earlier this year to increase domestic timber production in the US and a "tariff investigation" carried out by the Secretary of Commerce into the US furniture industry, announced in late August.

Much of the US lumber used in construction is imported from Canada.

For lumber, the proclamation cites threats to the US's "defense capabilities, construction industry, and economic strength" as the main drivers behind the tariffs, as well as an over-reliance on imported goods.

"President Trump recognizes that an overreliance on foreign timber, lumber, and their derivative products could jeopardize the United States defense capabilities, construction industry, and economic strength," said the Administration.

US cites defence for lumber tariff

Research conducted by the Trump Administration found that lumber "plays a vital role" in the construction of civilian and military infrastructure, and that the US is equipped to provide the required resource via its own "raw materials and industrial capacity".

Industry leaders have expressed concern over the tariffs, with furniture company Ethan Allan CEO Farooq Kathwari telling the New York Times "[g]etting manufacturing started in the US isn't easy".

Recently, a mass-timber construction project in Milwaukee was stalled due to tariffs, according to its developer, while Dezeen examined the impact tariffs could have on the design industry at large.

The photo is by Albert E Theberge.

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