US to Impose 10% Tariff on Wood, 25% on Furniture Starting October 14

30-50% Tariffs Next Year for Countries Without Trade Agreements

The United States will impose a 10% tariff on imported processed wood and a 25% tariff on imported wooden furniture, including sofas, dressing tables, and kitchen cabinets, starting from October 14.

The White House announced on September 29 (local time) that President Donald Trump had signed a proclamation enacting these measures.

AFP Yonhap News

Accordingly, starting October 14, softwood and lumber imported into the United States will be subject to a 10% tariff. Wooden kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and fabric-covered furniture such as sofas will be subject to a 25% tariff.

If countries exporting these items do not reach a trade agreement with the United States by the end of this year, the tariff rates will increase to 30% for fabric-covered furniture and 50% for kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities starting January 1 next year. However, the United Kingdom, which has already concluded negotiations with the United States, will face a 10% tariff on wood products, while the European Union and Japan will not be subject to tariffs exceeding 15%.

In the proclamation, President Trump stated that these measures would "strengthen the supply chain of the wood industry, enhance industrial resilience, create quality jobs, and increase the utilization of domestic wood product facilities."

This tariff imposition appears to be aimed at influencing voters in the swing state of North Carolina. North Carolina was once a hub for the furniture and wood industries but has experienced a downturn due to competition from low-priced Chinese imports. On this day, President Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, "To make North Carolina great again, after it lost its furniture industry entirely to China and other countries, I will impose significant tariffs on any country that does not manufacture furniture within the United States."