Trump Plans To Stick New Tariffs on Imported Cabinets, Vanities, and Furniture
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It seemed like all the tariff headlines had calmed down and the nation was preoccupied with mounting concerns of political violence when President Donald Trump announced he was going to place new duties on key imports with national security implications, such as pharmaceuticals, trucks, and … household furnishings.
On Thursday, the president outlined his plans in a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social, citing domestic market and national security concerns as the bases for the tariffs.
“We will be imposing a 50% Tariff on all Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Vanities, and associated products, starting October 1st, 2025,” Trump wrote. “Additionally, we will be charging a 30% Tariff on Upholstered Furniture. The reason for this is the large scale ‘FLOODING’ of these products into the United States by other outside Countries.”
“It is a very unfair practice, but we must protect, for National Security and other reasons, our Manufacturing process. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” the president added.
Supporters of the president’s tariff policy have argued that cheaper imports have undermined domestic manufacturing. That’s certainly been true for a wide array of products ranging from steel to cars to consumer electronics.
Household furnishings have also been hit hard, with foreign goods from China and Vietnam leading the charge into the U.S. market and putting domestic producers out of business.
Trump previously teased a tariff on foreign-made furniture during the summer, announcing an investigation into its impact on domestic production.
“Within the next 50 days, that Investigation will be completed, and Furniture coming from other Countries into the United States will be Tariffed at a Rate yet to be determined. This will bring the Furniture Business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and States all across the Union,” he posted on social media in August.
It appears that the new tariffs stem from presidential authority under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows for the imposition of tariffs without congressional approval if imports are seen as threatening national security.
The Guardian reported that a White House official informed the outlet that the results of the investigation mentioned by Trump would explain how household furnishing imports threaten national security.
As of Sunday night, there hasn’t been much to go off of in terms of any more specifics. In a statement, the National Association of Home Builders said the tariffs “could raise construction costs.”
“NAHB is working to get additional information from Trump administration officials to clarify and quantify the potential effects of these new tariffs on housing,” the industry group said.
Uncertainty over tariffs on building materials caused concern earlier this year, with market observers arguing any increases in construction costs wouldn’t do prospective homebuyers or builders any favors.
