Particle.news
Download on the App Store
13 ARTICLES
·
5h ago

U.S. Opens Furniture Import Probe, Setting Up Potential Tariffs Within 50 Days

A Section 232 national‑security review frames the move, leaving rates and timing uncertain.

Image
Image
U.S. President Donald Trump wears a 'Trump Was Right About Everything!' hat, as he makes an announcement on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 22, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Overview

  • President Trump announced a Commerce Department investigation into furniture imports with a 50‑day target to conclude, signaling possible tariffs at a rate yet to be determined.
  • A U.S. official said the inquiry is being handled under Section 232 as part of a timber and lumber review, a process that can run up to 270 days even as the White House points to an October decision.
  • Shares of import‑reliant retailers fell after hours, including Wayfair, RH and Williams‑Sonoma, while U.S. manufacturers such as La‑Z‑Boy and Ethan Allen rose.
  • Unresolved questions include the tariff level, the precise timeline, and whether any sector‑wide duties would be layered on top of existing country‑specific rates.
  • The action extends a wider tariff campaign that has boosted monthly tariff receipts to more than $29 billion in July and lands as the furniture sector contends with weak demand tied to a slower housing market and high borrowing costs.