(Adnkronos) –
Starting next October 14, the United States will impose additional 10% tariffs on imports of softwood and wood products, while it will apply a
new 25% tax on cabinets and other furniture made from this material. This is according to a statement released by the White House, in which the president also established that, starting from January 1, 2026, these new rates will increase from 10 to 30% for softwood and foreign sawn timber, used in a wide variety of construction materials, and from 25 to 50% in the case of “finished kitchen furniture and imported parts for their use.”
According to what has been decided, the tariffs “will remain in force, with the exception of countries with which the United States reaches an agreement that addresses the threat to national security posed by imports of wood products,” Trump added in a note, emphasizing that these tariffs “are in addition to any other duty, tax, levy, or charge applicable to such imported wood products.”
According to the White House, some economies such as the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan will benefit from more favorable tariff conditions, in line with their respective trade agreements with Washington. The administration justified the tariffs on national security grounds, arguing that wood is crucial for civilian and military infrastructure and that heavy reliance on foreign supply chains creates “vulnerabilities to potential disruptions.”
However, the new measures have already drawn strong criticism, with ongoing legal challenges and the Supreme Court set to discuss the legality of global tariffs on November 5. Economists and builders cited by CNN warn that the price increases could exacerbate the housing affordability crisis, as approximately 30% of the softwood used in the United States comes from Canada, which is already subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties. Furniture prices are also rising: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the last year alone, the costs of living room and dining room furniture have increased by almost 10%.
