Trump Says US to Probe Furniture Imports, Threatening Tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened fresh tariffs on imported furniture, announcing that his administration will launch a probe into the sector. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, “We are doing a major Tariff Investigation on Furniture coming into the United States. Within the next 50 days, that Investigation will be completed.” The tariff rate has yet to be decided.

Trump justified the plan as a measure to bring the furniture industry back to states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Michigan. The US employed over 340,000 people in the furniture and related products manufacturing sector as of July 2025, about half the level seen in 2000.

China and Vietnam are among the major sources of US furniture imports. The United States imported $25.5 billion worth of furniture in 2024, according to trade publication Furniture Today. The move marks Trump’s latest threat targeting specific sectors, following earlier duties on steel, aluminum, autos, and other products.

Economists note that while partner countries like Vietnam and China have already faced tariffs, additional duties could raise business costs for importers and other firms. The impact on overall consumer inflation appears limited for now, though tariffs could gradually affect prices in the world’s largest economy.

The Trump administration has also launched investigations into imports of pharmaceuticals, chips, critical minerals, and other goods, often citing national security concerns. Such probes typically take months and could eventually justify new tariffs.

China, Vietnam, and other countries remain closely monitored as the US prepares for possible sector-specific levies on furniture imports.