Laboratory Furniture
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence

Tariffs to negatively impact the furniture and furnishings sector

• The Trump Administration’s reciprocal tariffs, which apply general tariff rate increases to most leading US trade partners, took effect on August 7, after the administration finalized the rates on August 1. These changes will significantly increase the tariff rate on leading furniture import sources, including Canada (35.0%), China (54.0%), Mexico (25.0%), and Vietnam (20.0%).
• Additionally, the United States nearly tripled the tariff rate on Canadian lumber from 7.66% to 20.56% in late July. While lumber is typically exempt from the general tariffs on Canada and Mexico because it is wholly produced in Canada or Mexico, making it eligible for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) tariff exemption, this lumber-specific tariff will significantly increase the cost for American furniture producers to source lumber.
• Common metals in furniture production, including aluminum, copper, and steel, face 50.0% tariffs at the start of August, further increasing the input costs of domestic furniture production. In October, the Trump Administration raised tariffs on softwood timber and lumber to 10.0%, upholstered wood furniture to 25.0%, and kitchen cabinets, vanities, and associated parts to 25.0%; and the tariff on upholstered furniture will be raised to 30.0%, and the rate for kitchen cabinets, vanities, and associated parts will be raised to 50.0% at the start of the new year.
• According to a FurnitureToday survey of 420 retailers, tariffs are expected to have a significant impact on 70.0% of furniture and furnishings businesses, and few believe they will avoid the impact of tariffs. Around 27.0% of furniture and furnishings retailers are expected to raise prices immediately in the face of new tariffs.
• Higher tariffs on US imports of furniture and furnishings are also likely to contribute to supply chain issues, reduced inventory selection, and longer lead times. The increase in the average tariff rate will also increase costs for raw materials used to manufacture furniture and furnishings, pressuring prices upward.

Increased tariffs on copper imports take effect

• On August 1, the Trump administration implemented 50.0% tariffs on imported copper. Chile and Canada will be most impacted by these tariffs, as they account for a combined 87.0% of all copper imports in the United States.
• However, these tariffs are less sweeping than initially expected, only applying to semi-finished copper products, while excluding high-purity refined copper and copper input materials, such as ore and concentrate. As leading importers, such as Chile and Canada, have both high copper mining and refining capacities, they will likely avoid most of these tariffs by either exporting the copper in its unrefined form or refining the copper before exporting it to the United States
• These copper tariff exemptions limit the impact on the electronics and electrical equipment sectors because these applications require refined copper due to its optimal conductive properties.
• Thus, the prices of metal alloys that include copper, consumer products made from copper, tools, plumbing, corrosion-resistant alloys, and construction materials made from copper are forecast to rise by an average of 39.2%, according to the Yale Budget Lab.

United States announces new tariffs on all imported steel

• In February 2025, the United States announced 25.0% tariffs on all imported steel with no exemptions or exceptions. The tariffs took effect on March 12, 2025. On June 4th, these tariffs were increased further to 50%. These tariffs were not impacted by a recent court decision that temporarily suspended duties on certain goods as they were implemented under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.
• Previously, countries such as Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, the top exporters of steel to the United States, had exemptions from tariffs. These have now been removed and all imported steel, regardless of origin, will be subject to the 50.0% tariff. However, on May 8th, the US announced an agreement with the United Kingdom to remove all levies on steel exported from the UK.
• When tariffs on steel imports were introduced in March 2018, they contributed to an increase in the price of steel and steel products. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of steel-milled products increased by 10.2% in the year after the tariffs were implemented. This market heavily relies on steel as an input and may be impacted by this policy.