WASHINGTON (News release) -- President Donald J. Trump has imposed a 10% ad valorem tariff on softwood lumber imports and a 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets, vanities, and certain upholstered wooden furniture under a new proclamation issued on September 29. These measures follow a Section 232 investigation by the Department of Commerce, which determined that current import levels of wood products could threaten to impair national security, according to the White House.
The 25% tariffs on upholstered wooden furniture and kitchen cabinets will increase on January 1, 2026, to 30% and 50% respectively. The new tariffs take effect October 14, 2025, and apply to products listed in Annex I of the proclamation. These duties are in addition to existing tariffs and fees and will apply to both finished goods and imported components used in manufacturing.
The Department of Commerce found that despite domestic production capacity sufficient to meet 95% of the United States' 2024 softwood consumption, the country has remained a net importer of lumber since 2016. The report cited rising import volumes, foreign subsidies, and unfair trade practices as causes of reduced investment, mill closures, and declining industrial resilience in the U.S. wood products sector.
The investigation concluded that wood products are essential to national defense, with applications in construction, storage, transport of munitions, and missile defense systems. These materials also support critical civilian infrastructure including the power grid, transportation, and communications. The Department warned that dependence on foreign suppliers creates vulnerabilities that could disrupt both defense operations and essential domestic services.
The tariff on softwood lumber is set at 10% and will not increase in 2026. Imports from the United Kingdom will be capped at a 10% tariff, while imports from the European Union and Japan will face a maximum combined tariff rate of 15% when added to existing Most-Favored Nation duties, in accordance with current trade frameworks.
The United States Trade Representative has been instructed to negotiate agreements with foreign trading partners to address the identified threat. Countries reaching agreements may be exempted from the 2026 rate increases. The proclamation also authorizes additional tariff adjustments based on undervaluation findings or rising import volumes.
The Department of Commerce will monitor the wood product market and deliver a formal update on hardwood timber, lumber, and the domestic industry by October 1, 2026. Further measures may be recommended depending on market conditions.
The White House stated that these actions are intended to rebuild domestic wood production, reduce foreign dependency, and strengthen supply chains critical to national defense and economic stability.
