Trump Imposes 10 Percent Tariff on Lumber Imports, 25 Percent on Furniture

The tariffs will take effect on Oct. 14, with certain imports facing higher rates next year.

A man chooses his piece of wood from the lumber section at a home improvement retailer in Temple City, Calif, on Sept. 10, 2025. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Sept. 29 imposing a 10 percent tariff on imports of softwood timber and lumber, along with a 25 percent duty on imported kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered furniture.

The tariffs will take effect on Oct. 14, with certain imports facing higher rates next year, according to the proclamation.

The duty on upholstered wooden products will rise to 30 percent, while rates on kitchen cabinets and vanities will increase to 50 percent in January 2026, affecting only imports from countries without U.S. trade deals.

Trump said the tariffs were intended to “strengthen supply chains, bolster industrial resilience, create high-quality jobs, and increase domestic capacity utilization for wood products such that the United States can fully satisfy domestic consumption while also creating economic benefits through increased exports.”

“These actions will also encourage capital investment and drive innovation across the United States wood products industry, and strengthen the ability of the military and national-defense industry to domestically produce key munitions and defense systems and perform other required critical national-security functions,” he stated.

Trump sought to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign timber, lumber, and their derivative products. The tariffs are also intended to protect U.S. industry from foreign subsidies and predatory practices that distort markets, according to a White House fact sheet.

Lumber is a vital material for both civilian construction and military infrastructure. Trump stated that the U.S. military spends more than $10 billion a year on building projects.

“Because of the state of the United States wood industry, the United States may be unable to meet demands for wood products that are crucial to the national defense and critical infrastructure,” the president stated in his proclamation.

Trump first announced the tariffs on his Truth Social account on Sept. 29, stating they would apply to countries that do not manufacture furniture in the United States. He said the move was necessary to prevent further loss of furniture business to China and other countries.

The Commerce Department had previously been tasked to investigate imports of wood products, which found that the current volumes and conditions of these imports pose a threat to national security, according to the fact sheet.

Industry representatives have said higher duties could drive up prices and disrupt supply chains.

“Trade policies have always had a profound impact on home furnishings retail, and recent developments under the current administration suggest continued volatility,” the Home Furnishing Association, representing more than 1,400 retailers and 10,000 storefronts, said in a recent statement.

While the group acknowledged the administration’s goal of bringing manufacturing jobs back, it stated that the link between tariffs and inflation “remains a pressing concern” for the sector.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has leaned heavily on tariffs as a tool to protect domestic industries, reshore manufacturing, and raise federal revenue. The Congressional Budget Office estimated on Aug. 22 that his tariff policies could reduce the federal deficit by $4 trillion over the next decade.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.