Laurie Buckhout: The Increased Tariffs On Softwood Lumber, Upholstered Furniture Imports, And Imports Of Kitchen Cabinets And Vanities Worsened North Carolina’s Furniture Industry By Raising Prices Even Forcing A Business To Close

October 2025: Tariffs Increased On Softwood Lumber, Upholstered Furniture Imports, And Imports Of Kitchen Cabinets And Vanities

2025: Trump Implemented An Additional 10% Tariff On Softwood Lumber On Top Of The Original 25% Tariff. “Trump recently announced on social media that he is implementing an additional 10% tariff on softwood lumber on top of the 25% tariff from earlier this year. He also announced 25% tariffs on some upholstered furniture and on kitchen cabinets & vanities, which would increase to 30% and 50% respectively, in January.” [NC Voices, 10/14/25]

Trump Levied A 25% Tariff On Upholstered Furniture Imports, Rising To 30% On Jan. 1. And A 25% Tariff, Rising To 50% On Jan. 1, For Imports Of Kitchen Cabinets And Vanities. President Trump is unleashing a new round of tariffs on furniture with the stated goal of reviving North Carolina's “furniture manufacturing industry. Why it matters: After the South lured factories and thousands of jobs from the North with the promise of cheap labor in the mid-20th century, North Carolina became a hotbed of furniture manufacturing. During this century, much of that work moved to lower-cost markets like China and Vietnam. Those in the industry say tariffs are unlikely to revive the industry that once underpinned much of North Carolina's economy. […] Zoom in: The White House later provided more details, saying it would levy a 25% tariff on upholstered furniture imports, rising to 30% on Jan. 1, and a 25% tariff, rising to 50% on Jan. 1, for imports of kitchen cabinets and vanities. It also adds a 10% tariff on imports of softwood lumber. However, countries like the United Kingdom, ones in the European Union and Japan were given lower rates.” [Axios Raleigh, 10/1/25]

Trump Levied A 25% Tariff, Rising To 50% On Jan. 1, For Imports Of Kitchen Cabinets And Vanities. President Trump is unleashing a new round of tariffs on furniture with the stated goal of reviving North Carolina's “furniture manufacturing industry. Why it matters: After the South lured factories and thousands of jobs from the North with the promise of cheap labor in the mid-20th century, North Carolina became a hotbed of furniture manufacturing. During this century, much of that work moved to lower-cost markets like China and Vietnam. Those in the industry say tariffs are unlikely to revive the industry that once underpinned much of North Carolina's economy. […] Zoom in: The White House later provided more details, saying it would levy a 25% tariff on upholstered furniture imports, rising to 30% on Jan. 1, and a 25% tariff, rising to 50% on Jan. 1, for imports of kitchen cabinets and vanities. It also adds a 10% tariff on imports of softwood lumber. However, countries like the United Kingdom, ones in the European Union and Japan were given lower rates.” [Axios Raleigh, 10/1/25]

Furniture Industry Leaders Warned New Tariffs Would Not Help The Industry But Worsen It

Furniture Industry Leaders Warned Tariffs Would Not Help The Industry But Worsen It

NC Voices: Trump’s Lumber Tariffs Lead To Price Increases And Potential Downsizing. “Trump’s social media post claimed that the reason for these surprise tariff increases was the North Carolina furniture industry. He said that they would somehow revive the shrinking industry, but didn’t offer an explanation of how raising the price of materials and imported pieces would accomplish this. […] Furniture for America, a trade group led by the Home Furnishings Alliance in High Point, responded to the announcement in a detailed letter to the Trump administration. The letter explains the concerns of industry leaders that these tariffs would not only fail to strengthen the US furniture industry but actually damage it further. The 25% tariffs from earlier this year have already driven up lumber prices steeply, leading to price increases and potential downsizing. Industry leaders worry that the new additional tariffs will only make the problem worse, particularly for small factories that can’t shoulder the higher prices and may have to close. Furniture for America pointed to the shifts in global supply chains over the last 25 years, as well as how the advancement of technology and automation has reduced the number of workers needed. At the same time, they said the shift of workers away from manufacturing jobs has left a shortage of skilled workers as the number one issue for domestic manufacturers. The high unemployment that immediately followed the closing of many North Carolina furniture factories 10-15 years ago did not last.” [NC Voices, 10/14/25]

Furniture For America: Tariffs On Lumber Would Not Only Fail To Strengthen The Furniture Industry But Worsen It. “Trump’s social media post claimed that the reason for these surprise tariff increases was the North Carolina furniture industry. He said that they would somehow revive the shrinking industry, but didn’t offer an explanation of how raising the price of materials and imported pieces would accomplish this. […] Furniture for America, a trade group led by the Home Furnishings Alliance in High Point, responded to the announcement in a detailed letter to the Trump administration. The letter explains the concerns of industry leaders that these tariffs would not only fail to strengthen the US furniture industry but actually damage it further. The 25% tariffs from earlier this year have already driven up lumber prices steeply, leading to price increases and potential downsizing. Industry leaders worry that the new additional tariffs will only make the problem worse, particularly for small factories that can’t shoulder the higher prices and may have to close. Furniture for America pointed to the shifts in global supply chains over the last 25 years, as well as how the advancement of technology and automation has reduced the number of workers needed. At the same time, they said the shift of workers away from manufacturing jobs has left a shortage of skilled workers as the number one issue for domestic manufacturers. The high unemployment that immediately followed the closing of many North Carolina furniture factories 10-15 years ago did not last.” [NC Voices, 10/14/25]

  • Furniture Of America Was A Furniture Provider And Source For U.S.-Made Upholstery. “Furniture of America is your provider of life changing and home altering furniture. We believe that furniture carries with it the emotion of joy. It can breathe life into your home and reshape the way you interact in your domestic realm. We feel that your home should reflect who you are and how you want those closest to you to feel when they enter a room. It is a long journey from manufacturing, to retail, and finally to your home. […] FOA started as a handful of people with a small warehouse and a commitment to delivering happiness. Today, that small warehouse has grown to five distribution centers. That handful of passionate workers is now hundreds of brothers and sisters. We now service customers around the globe, and are major players in the nation’s largest furniture trade-shows. FOA is a premier source for US-made upholstery, allowing us to maintain a competitive edge while supporting our country’s job market. We hold a portfolio of U.S. design and utility patents, with

several pending. Each aims to uphold our commitment to innovation, value, and most importantly, safety.” [Furniture of America, About Us, accessed 4/28/26]

  • NC Voices Headline: “North Carolina Furniture Manufacturers Warn Trump’s New Tariffs Will Hurt Their Industry, Not Revive It As He Claims.” [NC Voices, 10/14/25]
  • Axios Raleigh Headline: “Why Tariffs May Not Save Furniture Manufacturing In North Carolina.” [Axios Raleigh, 10/1/25]

Home Goods Prices At High Point Market Increased By As Much As 42% Because Of Tariffs

Home Goods Prices At High Point Market Increased By As Much As 42% Because Of Tariffs. “Exploring showrooms and offerings at the High Point Market, I plopped down in a bean bag, amazed at how soft and luxurious it felt — a sharp contrast from the rocky ones of my elementary school days. Fibre by Auskin describes itself as a global company, sourcing alpaca fur from South America and wool from Tibetan lamb. The company says it has purchasing, manufacturing, design and sales teams in Australia, China and New Zealand. Like most wholesalers at the market, Fibre by Auskin is decidedly high-end. But even luxury goods like the bean bag are bearing the brunt of tariffs. Its manufacturer’s suggested retail price rose 37% this year, going from $1,320 to $1,814. […] Other products by the same company saw even steeper markups — sales executive Erin Dowd said a pillow went from $71 to $101, a 42% increase. The company faced a 25% tariff on all inbound goods from China in 2018. Tariffs increased by an additional 30% in 2025, resulting in a total of 55%. ‘We managed to absorb as much of that as possible, but this year hit hard,’ Dowd said. ‘I would say there’s not a day that goes by that somebody calls and they ask for a price and say, ‘Oh, that’s gone up.’” [NC Newsline, 10/29/25]

  • High Point Market Was The World’s Largest Wholesale Home Furnishings Trade Show. “Known as the Home Furnishings Capital of the World™, High Point is where style comes to life. Discover more than 1,000 brands representing every aesthetic, from timeless classics to modern statement pieces. Whether you are furnishing an entire home or searching for that one perfect find, the selection here is unmatched. High Point is also home to High Point Market, the world’s largest wholesale home furnishings trade show, held each spring and fall and open exclusively to retailers and design professionals.” [Visit High Point, accessed 4/28/26]
  • NC Newsline Headline: “Economy National State, Local Govt. New Furniture Tariffs Ripple Through North Carolina’s High Point Market.” [NC Newsline, 10/29/25]

Tariffs Influenced A North Carolina Homeware Company To Close And Fire Its Staff

Tariffs Influenced A North Carolina Homeware Company To Close And Fire Its Staff. “A North Carolina homeware company has been forced to shutter as President Donald Trump’s hefty import tariffs hit the furniture industry hard. Progressive Furniture, a division of Sauder Woodworking based in Claremont, North Carolina, announced its plans to close down and fire all 30 of its employees by the end of the year. The firm sells high-quality traditional and modern homeware at Walmart, Target and Home Depot. 'This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it will have on our employees, customers and partners,' Progressive Furniture CEO Dan Kendrick told The Street. 'We are committed to supporting our employees through this transition and will aid where possible to help them find new opportunities.' While the CEO said that Trump's seismic changes to the world economy did impact his decision to close the business, there were other factors involved.” [Daily Mail, 4/17/25]

  • Daily Mail Headline: “Huge Homeware Brand Suddenly Closes And Fires All Its Staff As Trump's Tariffs Come Into Effect.” [Daily Mail, 4/17/25]
  • CBC 17 Headline: “NC Home Builders, Lumber Suppliers Brace For Impact Of Tariffs On Canada, Mexico.” [CBS 17, 3/5/25]
  • ABC 11 Headline: “Concerns Grow Nationwide As Tariffs On Imported Lumber, Wood Products Take Effect.” [ABC 11, 10/14/25]

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