President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on lumber and related furniture imports to safeguard American manufacturing and address national security concerns. These measures include a 10% tariff on softwood lumber and a 25% tariff on certain upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets.
Details of the Tariffs and Implementation Timeline
The tariffs will take effect on October 14, 2025. Softwood lumber imports will be subject to a 10% duty, while upholstered wooden furniture such as sofas, armchairs, and chairs will face a 25% tariff. Kitchen cabinets and vanities, along with their parts, will also incur a 25% tariff. Starting January 1, 2026, the tariffs on upholstered furniture will increase to 30%, and tariffs on kitchen cabinets and vanities will rise to 50%.
National Security Justification and Trade Partner Exceptions
The administration invoked Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, citing that imports of wood products threaten to impair the national security of the United States by undermining domestic manufacturing capacity critical to defense and infrastructure. While these tariffs apply globally, certain trading partners such as the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan benefit from reduced tariff rates due to existing trade agreements. For example, wood imports from the UK will face tariffs no higher than 10%, and those from the EU and Japan will not exceed 15%.
Previously, broader tariffs were justified under a different statute (IEEPA), but courts challenged that authority. The Section 232 route provides a legal pathway for these tariffs, offering the administration flexibility amid ongoing legal scrutiny.
These tariffs form part of a broader strategy to support US industries and address perceived threats from import surges in critical sectors.