Overview

• Under a presidential proclamation, softwood lumber faces a 10% tariff and certain upholstered furniture plus kitchen cabinets and vanities face 25% starting Oct. 14, with rates slated to rise on Jan. 1, 2026 to 30% and 50% absent deals.
• A Commerce Department Section 232 probe led by Secretary Howard Lutnick concluded wood imports threaten to impair U.S. national security, providing the legal basis for the new duties.
• For Canadian exporters, the 10% lumber tariff stacks on anti-dumping and countervailing duties, lifting total charges above 45% for many producers as industry groups warn of higher U.S. housing costs and supply curtailments.
• UBS estimates the levies could add about $720 to the lumber cost of an average home and roughly $280 from cabinets and vanities, signaling upward pressure on homebuilding budgets.
• Country caps reduce exposure for some partners—U.K. at 10% and EU/Japan up to 15%—while India may gain competitiveness as previous 50% penalties on affected wood and furniture are replaced by 10%–25% rates.