Trump Postpones Upholstered Furniture, Cabinetry Tariffs
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Those looking to refurnish or finally update that kitchen got a late Christmas present courtesy of President Donald Trump, who once again delayed the implementation of previously threatened tariffs on certain goods.
On New Year’s Eve, the White House announced that a planned 50% tariff on imported kitchen cabinets and vanities and a planned 30% tariff on upholstered furniture would be postponed a year after previously being scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2026.
Current 25% tariffs on such wood-derived imports will remain in force.
“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,” the White House said in a news release. “America’s reliance on imported lumber is exacerbated by foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices that undermine the competitiveness of the U.S. wood products industry.”
Back in September, when Trump threatened the steeper tariffs, he accused foreign countries of “flooding” the United States with cheap wood products. Economic saber-rattling over Canadian lumber preceded the furniture and cabinet duty talk. Combined with the administration’s aggressive deportation policy, Trump’s tariff back-and-forth left builders and prospective homebuyers dealing with a lot of uncertainty last year.
As it turned out, consumers didn’t exactly bear the brunt of tariff-fueled price increases in 2025. Some 80% of costs were absorbed by businesses, according to JPMorgan, per CNN. That dynamic, however, may flip on its head this year, with more companies expected to pass the cost on to their customers.
The president’s latest tariff reversal on cabinets and furniture was welcome in residential real estate, but the construction side of the industry is still chafing under Trump’s protectionist policies.
“With the nation facing a housing affordability crisis, [National Association of Home Builders] continues to urge the president to exempt building materials as part of his tariff strategy because they raise construction costs, impede supply chains, and place upward pressure on home prices,” NAHB said on Friday.
