Economy

Trump Targets Furniture: How New Tariffs Could Impact Your Wallet

Trump vows “substantial” furniture tariffs to boost US manufacturing. Prices are expected to rise.

September 29, 2025, 3:48 PM

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Executive Summary

President Donald Trump has vowed “substantial” tariffs on imported furniture to bolster domestic manufacturing, expanding on recent tariff declarations for other goods like kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered furniture.

The tariffs aim to aid states like North Carolina, but previous duties on furniture imports, particularly from China and Vietnam, have already contributed to rising U.S. consumer prices for furniture and bedding.

These new tariff announcements are part of a broader series of protectionist trade policies by Trump, preceding a Supreme Court case that will examine the legal authority for country-specific tariffs based on economic emergency claims.

The Story So Far

President Trump’s recent tariff announcements, including those on furniture, are part of a broader protectionist trade policy aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing and aiding specific U.S. industries, such as North Carolina’s furniture business, despite previous tariffs already contributing to rising consumer prices. These measures also precede a significant Supreme Court case that will scrutinize the administration’s legal authority to impose country-specific tariffs based on claims of economic emergency.

Why This Matters

President Trump’s proposed “substantial” tariffs on imported furniture, coupled with other recently announced duties on goods like kitchen cabinets and branded drugs, are poised to further escalate consumer prices, building on recent increases in furniture and bedding costs. These sweeping protectionist measures also underscore a looming Supreme Court case that will critically examine the legal limits of presidential authority to impose country-specific tariffs, potentially reshaping executive power in trade policy.

Who Thinks What?

President Donald Trump advocates for “substantial” tariffs on imported furniture and other goods to bolster domestic manufacturing, protect U.S. industries from foreign competition, and aid states like North Carolina, which he claims have lost their furniture business.

Economic data indicates that previous tariffs on furniture imports have already contributed to rising furniture and bedding prices for U.S. consumers, with prices up 4.7% compared to the previous year.

President Donald Trump has vowed to enact “substantial” tariffs on imported furniture, citing a desire to bolster domestic manufacturing. This announcement, made via a Truth Social post on Monday, September 29, 2025, follows recent declarations of new tariffs on various goods, including kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, upholstered furniture, foreign-produced films, branded drugs, and trucks.

New Tariff Announcements

Trump’s latest threat targets countries that do not manufacture furniture in the United States. This expands on previous tariff plans for kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, set at 50%, and upholstered furniture, at 30%, which are expected to go into effect later this week.

The specific mechanism for implementing country-specific furniture tariffs remains unclear, as businesses, not countries, are the primary manufacturers of furniture. Typically, sectoral duties are applied uniformly, regardless of the country of origin.

Economic Impact and Rationale

Earlier tariffs on furniture imports, particularly from China and Vietnam—the top two sources of imported furniture—have already contributed to rising furniture prices in the U.S. Data from the U.S. Commerce Department indicates that China and Vietnam collectively exported $12 billion worth of furniture and fixtures to the U.S. last year.

According to the Consumer Price Index, furniture and bedding prices rose 0.9% in July and 0.3% in August. Compared to August 2024, prices for these categories are 4.7% higher, marking the largest increase in three years and contrasting with falling prices over much of the preceding two and a half years.

In his Monday post, Trump stated his impetus for levying higher furniture tariffs was to aid North Carolina, claiming the state “has completely lost its furniture business to China, and other countries.” North Carolina is considered a key battleground state with a Senate seat up for election next year.

Broader Tariff Landscape

Beyond furniture, Trump also announced a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films. Last week, he declared a 100% tariff on branded drugs, with some exceptions, and a 25% tariff on trucks, all slated to go into effect later this week.

These tariff initiatives precede a significant Supreme Court case scheduled for November. The case will examine whether the Trump administration possesses the legal authority to impose country-specific tariffs based on claims of an economic emergency. However, sectoral tariffs based on national security are currently not facing legal challenges.

Outlook

The series of tariff announcements underscores a continued focus on protectionist trade policies. These measures carry potential implications for consumer prices, international trade relations, and the legal interpretation of presidential authority in economic matters.