U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday the imposition of 10% tariffs on imported timber and lumber, along with 25% duties on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered furniture. This move is part of Trump’s ongoing tariff strategy against global trading partners, targeting sectors including patented pharmaceutical imports and heavy truck imports.
The tariffs on lumber and furniture are set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on October 14, following a presidential proclamation citing the erosion of U.S. national security by timber, lumber, and furniture imports under Section 232 of the Trade Act of 1974. Trump’s utilization of Section 232 has increased as he awaits a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of his reciprocal tariffs, which lower courts have rejected.
The proclamation outlined that the initial tariff rates will start on October 14, with plans for further increases on January 1, 2026, to 30% for upholstered wooden products and 50% for kitchen cabinets and vanities from countries that do not reach agreements with the U.S. Trump’s proclamation emphasized the negative impact of wood product imports on the U.S. economy, leading to mill closures, supply chain disruptions, and reduced utilization of domestic wood industries.
The proclamation justified the tariffs by stating that wood products are crucial for national defense and critical infrastructure, emphasizing their role in building infrastructure, housing, transportation of munitions, and defense systems. Trump’s tariff actions have particularly affected Canada, Vietnam, and Mexico, with Canada being a major softwood lumber supplier facing existing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs.
Mexico and Vietnam have become significant wooden furniture suppliers to the U.S. following previous tariffs on Chinese furniture products. The proclamation offered relief for countries with tariff-reducing trade deals with the U.S., setting capped rates for wood products from Britain, the European Union, and Japan. However, details on the trade deal with Vietnam were not explicitly mentioned.
Despite opposition from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which argued against restrictions on timber and lumber imports citing no national security risk, Trump’s administration continues to escalate tariff measures impacting various sectors and trading partners.
The move adds to the challenges faced by businesses dealing with disrupted supply chains, rising costs, and consumer uncertainty. The Canadian government aims to negotiate tariff reductions through broader trade agreements while providing aid to softwood lumber producers to mitigate the impact of tariffs.
