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4h ago

U.S. Tariffs on Cabinets, Furniture and Lumber Take Effect

The White House frames the move as a national-security measure to push more manufacturing at home.

Furniture prices in the United States have been rising at the fastest pace since the Covid-19 pandemic. Furniture executives caution that tariffs could amplify that trend.
Rock House Farm Furniture, a 78-year-old North Carolina furniture maker, could benefit from new US tariffs on imports. But its CEO, Alex Shuford, is concerned unintended consequences may harm the broader ecosystem.
Alex Shuford, CEO of Rock House Farm Furniture, told CNN's Dianne Gallagher that he's not optimistic about a massive reshoring of furniture jobs. “We’re not going to see the entire industry come back,” he said.
Furniture execs worry that current actions risk not only failing to return furniture jobs to the United States, but damage the industry’s reputation overseas.

Overview

  • Duties begin at 25% on imported kitchen cabinets, vanities and upholstered wooden furniture today, with rates set to rise to 50% for cabinets and vanities and 30% for upholstered items on Jan. 1.
  • A 10% levy now applies to softwood lumber imports, with Canada most exposed as the top supplier and combined duties on Canadian lumber reaching roughly 45% after existing anti-dumping and countervailing measures.
  • Homebuilding and remodeling costs are expected to rise, with estimates ranging from about $280 added to an average new home from cabinet tariffs to roughly $2,200 from the lumber tariff.
  • Industry reaction is divided, as some U.S. makers anticipate more orders while import-dependent firms raise prices and cut jobs, including Jofran laying off about 20% of its workforce.
  • The proclamation caps rates for select partners — up to 10% for the U.K. and 15% for the EU and Japan — while analysts highlight tight U.S. capacity and a shortage of skilled furniture workers.