Imported wood and furniture "threaten to impair the national security of the US", according to the administration.
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US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he was imposing 10% tariffs on imported timber and lumber and a 25% rate on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and certain upholstered furniture, including sofas and armchairs.
In his announcement on Monday, Trump said that an investigation came to the conclusion that "wood products are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States".
According to the statement, the wood industry in the US has ample raw material, but imports have weakened domestic manufacturing capacity to a point where "the United States may be unable to meet demands for wood products that are crucial to the national defence and critical infrastructure".
Trump also expanded the tariffs to finished products, "to ensure the tariffs on wood products in this proclamation are not circumvented".
Tariffs on these imports from the UK are subject to further talks, whereas the EU and Japan are facing duties no higher than 15% on these products, according to Trump's statement. Further negotiations with other trading partners could also take place before the tariffs come into force on 14 October.
As of 1 January 2026, the duty is going to increase on certain upholstered wood products to 30%, while kitchen cabinets and vanities are going to face a 50% duty.
These are the latest in a series of US tariffs announced by Trump, as the president says he is aiming to reduce the government's budget deficit and increase domestic manufacturing.
When referring to national security, Trump is pointing to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which authorises the president to control imports in the name of federal safety.
However, not everyone supports the president's reasoning.
“It’s hard to see how a kitchen cabinet industry is essential to winning the next war,’’ said Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Who will bear the brunt of the tariffs?
The levies are likely to hurt big furniture exporters like China and Vietnam. But they’re also likely to drive up the cost of new homes and apartments, as well as DIY redecorating projects.
Homeowners are already scaling back due to high costs and a shaky economy. According to the Labor Department, the price of living room, kitchen and dining room furniture has risen nearly 10% over the past year.
“Adding significant costs to furniture, cabinets, vanities, and building materials will make the American dream of owning a home significantly more expensive,” said Jonathan Gold, the National Retail Federation’s vice president of supply chain and customs policy.
“The speed at which these tariff announcements are made and implemented continues to wreak havoc on retail supply chains. The uncertainty makes it difficult for retailers to properly plan and mitigate the impact of tariffs.”
Previously, Trump had justified his broader tariffs using another mechanism, declaring a series of national emergencies under a 1977 law. But two courts have ruled that the president overstepped his authority by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose import taxes. The Supreme Court is hearing the case on appeal.
Robert Lawrence, a professor of International trade and investment at Harvard University, said that using Section 232 gives the president a Plan B if the courts strike down his IEEPA tariffs.
“He now has insurance and shows that he’s going to be able to get away with raising tariffs, even if he loses that case.”
