Trump furniture tariffs delay: Trump delays higher furniture tariffs for one year, easing price pressure on shoppers

Higher tariffs planned to start on January 1 will not start this year. Upholstered furniture would be charged a 30% higher tariff. Kitchen cabinets and sinks will face a much higher tariff of 50%, according to the AP. Trump said the reason for the postponement of higher tariffs was that trade talks were continuing. The tariffs are part of Trump’s broader effort to impose taxes on imported goods.

Trump tariff delay

The administration says these taxes are intended to address trade imbalances and other economic concerns. Trump said the furniture tariffs were “necessary to support American industry and protect national security.” Shoppers may not see immediate price increases on these furniture items as the higher tariffs have been postponed. The move adds to what the AP is calling a “rollercoaster” year for U.S. trade policy.
Since returning to office last year, Trump has repeatedly announced tariffs and then delayed or reversed them with little warning. In early 2025, from January to March, Trump focused new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. During the same period, the United States increased tariffs on steel and aluminum imports worldwide to 25%, expanding tariffs first set in 2018.

Independence Day tariffs

In April, Trump announced sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs on nearly every country. These announcements in April caused the stock market to plummet. Trump then said it was “a great time to buy” before delaying most of those tariffs just a few hours later, as the AP noted. When the US and China hit each other with repeated tariff increases, China was treated differently. Tariffs between the two countries have risen to 145% for US goods and 125% for Chinese goods.

The imposition of a 25% customs duty on imported automobiles created uncertainty for the automotive industry. Trade partners such as Canada responded with retaliation. From May to July, the Trump administration promoted trade “framework” agreements with countries such as China, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. At the same time, letters were sent to dozens of countries warning of higher tariffs. Trade tensions with Brazil and India rose sharply during this period.
Trump also increased steel and aluminum tariffs again, this time to 50%. A major legal challenge to Trump’s tariff powers has gained ground in federal court. A court blocked some tariffs imposed under emergency powers. An appeals court later paused that decision, allowing tariff collections to continue as the case progressed. In August, higher U.S. tariffs went into effect on goods from more than 60 countries and the European Union. Canada’s tariff rate was separately increased to 35%.

Supreme Court tariff fight and new import taxes

New customs duties of 50% began to be applied to goods coming from Brazil and India. As noted in the AP report, a 50% tariff went into effect on most copper imported worldwide. Low-value imports lost duty-free status with the end of the “de minimis” rule. During this period, the USA extended the trade ceasefire with China. A US appeals court ruled that Trump went so far as to justify tariffs in declaring a national emergency. The court did not reduce the tariffs completely and allowed the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court. From September to December, the Trump administration formally took the tariff case to the Supreme Court.

During early arguments, Supreme Court justices were skeptical of Trump’s authority to impose such broad tariffs. Despite the legal uncertainty, Trump continued to promise new industry-specific tariffs. During this period, the 25 percent customs duty on kitchen cabinets and other furniture officially came into force. Other threatened tariffs were postponed as inflation and price pressures increased. Trump lowered or eliminated some previous tariffs on goods such as beef and fruit to ease prices.

The president also suggested Americans could receive $2,000 in dividends from tariff revenues, as outlined in the AP report. Details about the proposed payment remain unclear. For shoppers, the one-year delay means furniture prices may remain more stable in the short term. But future prices will still depend on how Trump’s trade talks and tariff decisions develop.

FAQ

Q1. Why did Trump delay furniture tariffs for a year?

It postponed them because trade talks were still ongoing and higher prices could hurt shoppers.

Q2. Will furniture prices increase in 2026?

Prices may increase later if higher tariffs are added after a one-year delay.