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It remains unclear whether the proposed tariffs would be in addition to existing country-specific duties.
Trump did not elaborate on the specifics of the investigation
US President Donald Trump has announced a new proposal to impose tariffs on furniture imports, signalling another step in his administration’s broader push to bolster domestic manufacturing. The tariffs will not take immediate effect, but Trump indicated that a final decision could be made within the next 50 days, possibly by October.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump detailed the plan. “Within the next 50 days, that Investigation will be completed, and Furniture coming from other Countries into the United States will be Tariffed at a Rate yet to be determined,” Trump wrote. He added, “This will bring the Furniture Business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and States all across the Union.”
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The announcement triggered a swift reaction in financial markets. Shares of major furniture and home goods retailers, including Wayfair, RH, and Williams-Sonoma, dropped sharply in after-hours trading. In contrast, shares of La-Z-Boy, which manufactures most of its furniture in the US, rose on the news, reported Reuters.
While Trump did not elaborate on the specifics of the investigation, a US official told Bloomberg that the Commerce Department is conducting the probe as part of its ongoing review into timber and lumber imports. The investigation falls under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows the government to impose tariffs on goods considered vital to national security.
It remains unclear whether the proposed tariffs would be in addition to existing country-specific duties that Trump has negotiated through bilateral trade agreements.
The tariff plan aligns with Trump’s ongoing strategy to incentivise manufacturers to shift production back to the US, particularly in states with a legacy of furniture-making. States like North Carolina were once leading hubs of furniture manufacturing before much of the industry relocated overseas due to lower labour costs. According to government data cited by Reuters, employment in furniture and wood product manufacturing has declined significantly, from 1.2 million in 1979 to just 340,000 today.
The Trump administration is already weighing increased tariffs on a range of imported goods, including copper, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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