President Donald Trump has delayed an increase in tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities that was set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, for an additional year in order to allow negotiations with trade partners to continue.
The President first invoked Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to institute a 25% tariff on timber, lumber and derivative products on Oct. 14, 2025, citing national security concerns. That same order also called for the tariff rates to increase to 30% on upholstered furniture and 50% for kitchen cabinets, vanities and associated parts on Jan. 1, 2026. While this increase has been delayed for a year, the initial 25% tariff will remain in effect.
“President Trump recognizes that an overreliance on foreign timber, lumber and their derivative products could jeopardize the United States’ defense capabilities, construction industry and economic strength,” according to a White House fact sheet released on Dec. 31, 2025. “America’s reliance on imported lumber is exacerbated by foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices that undermine the competitiveness of the U.S. wood products industry. Given the ongoing productive negotiations regarding the imports of wood products, the President is delaying the tariff increase to allow for further negotiations to occur with other countries.”
Lumber is a hotly contested export category, with the U.S. sitting alongside a number of its biggest geopolitical friends and rivals in the list of top exporters. In 2024, China, Canada and Germany all exported more sawn wood products than the U.S., which ranked fourth among global exporters, followed by Vietnam, Poland and Russia at No. 7.
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The fact sheet repeatedly said that ongoing negotiations with trade partners have been “productive.” It also called out the other industries where tariffs have been invoked to address national and economic security concerns, including steel, aluminum, copper and automobiles, and highlighted the fact that additional investigations are ongoing in sectors including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, commercial aircraft, wind turbines, robotics, unmanned aircraft systems and personal protective equipment.
The delay in expanded furniture tariffs comes as the Trump administration awaits a ruling on the legality of its tariff policy by the Supreme Court, which heard the case in November 2025.
