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In a move that offers short-term relief to cabinet, furniture, and wood-products manufacturers, President Donald J. Trump signed a Proclamation delaying a planned increase in tariffs on certain upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for an additional year.
The tariff hike — originally scheduled to take effect January 1, 2026—has been postponed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 as the United States continues trade negotiations aimed at addressing reciprocity and national security concerns tied to imported wood products. The existing 25 percent tariff on select upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities, first imposed in September 2025, will remain in place during the delay.
The decision follows a Section 232 investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which concluded that current import levels of timber, lumber, and derivative wood products threaten to impair national security. Administration officials cited concerns over U.S. dependence on foreign lumber — particularly from countries employing subsidies and trade practices that undercut domestic producers — as a risk to the construction sector, defense readiness, and overall economic resilience.
The Proclamation builds on the Administration’s broader “America First” trade strategy, which has relied on Section 232 authorities to impose tariffs across multiple industries, including steel, aluminum, copper, and automobiles. Additional investigations are currently underway in sectors such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, robotics, and wind turbines.
For manufacturers and suppliers across the surface & panel industry, the delay provides temporary pricing stability while negotiations continue, though the White House signaled that future trade actions remain on the table.
