Introduction to New Tariffs
President Donald Trump announced tariffs for various household products on Thursday, including imported kitchen cupboards and certain types of furniture – and may increase even more costs to a category that has increased in recent months. Trump also announced heavy truck tariffs and pharmaceuticals on Thursday.
Tariff Details
"From October 1, 2025, we will impose a tariff of 50% for kitchen cabinets, vanity and associated products. We will also calculate a tariff of 30% on padded furniture," Trump wrote in a social post on Thursday evening.
Impact on Furniture Prices
Various tariffs, which Trump imposed, have already significantly increased furniture prices last year. Overall, furniture cost 4.7% more than in August 2024 last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Living room and dining room furniture in particular have become more expensive – 9.5% rose in the past 12 months, reported the BLS.
Previous Tariffs and Their Effects
The furniture prices rose when Trump won the tariffs in China and Vietnam, the two best sources for imported furniture. Both countries exported furniture and devices worth 12 billion US dollars last year, according to the data from the US trade department. The furniture prices had largely fallen in front of Trump’s tariffs in the last two and a half years.
Reasoning Behind the Tariffs
But Trump said on Thursday that foreign manufacturers have put the US market over and the tariffs were necessary to regain the skills of US production. "The reason for this is the big" flood "of these products to the United States through other external countries," said Trump. "It is a very unfair practice, but we have to protect our manufacturing process for national security and other reasons."
Market Reaction
The shares of several companies fell in trade in trading after business hours.
Tariffs on Heavy Trucks
On Thursday, Trump also announced a 25% tariff to heavy trucks that were imported to the USA, a trade output that is intended to compensate for the field for the American truck make-up industry that was relentlessly hit by the composed tariffs of the White House. "In order to protect our large heavy truck manufacturers from unfair external competition, I will" make a 25% (large!) Trucks "in other parts of the world from October 1, 2025," said Trump in a social post of truth on Thursday.
Effects of Previous Tariffs on Truck Manufacturers
Former tariffs that Trump levied – including 50% tariffs for steel, aluminum and copper – have significantly increased the costs for US truck manufacturers. Foreign trucks, including those manufactured by Germany’s Daimler Truck and International Motors, are usually manufactured in Mexico and imported due to the free trade agreement of the US-Mexico-Canada-Freistärt. Some of the tariffs were intended to strengthen the US production and to give American factories about foreign products. However, steel and aluminum tariffs have postponed the balance demand credit and imported the price of all metals increased as well as domestic.
Protection of US Manufacturers
"Our great manufacturers of the large truck company such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack Trucks and others are protected from the rush of external interruptions," said Trump on Thursday in his post. "We need for many reasons to be healthy and strong financially, but especially for national security purposes to be financially healthy and strong!"
Uncertainty Over Tariff Details
However, it is not clear whether the 25% tariff would apply to all high-performance trucks or only to those who do not meet the agreement on the US Mexico Canada.
Investigation and National Security
The announcement on Thursday follows an investigation that Trump instructed the trade department in April to determine whether medium -heavy and high -performance trucks represent a national security threat.
Other Tariffs
Trump has also threatened several other tariffs, including wood, semiconductor and other products.
