Trump Slaps New Tariffs On Lumber, Timber After National Security Probe

Amid another wave of tariffs implemented by the White House, the administration is levying tariffs on timber and lumber, citing national security concerns.

The move adds fresh pressure to a sector already roiled by years of trade disputes and price volatility, with the new tariffs set to take effect in two weeks.

President Donald Trump is imposing a 10% tariff on softwood timber and lumber and a 25% tariff on upholstered wooden products, kitchen cabinets and vanities. The tariffs are set to begin Oct. 14 and will climb further at the start of next year, according to a White House proclamation.

On Jan. 1, tariffs on upholstered wooden products — furniture built on wooden frames — will rise to 30%, while kitchen cabinets and vanities will jump to 50%, the White House said. 

“In my judgment, the actions in this proclamation will … strengthen supply chains, bolster industrial resilience [and] create high-quality jobs,” Trump wrote.

The president is using Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which lets him impose tariffs on national security grounds. The White House said the measures target America’s “overreliance” on foreign timber, lumber and related products.

In March, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick launched an investigation into the effects of imported timber, lumber and derivative products, which caused lumber futures to rise to more than $670.

In the proclamation, Trump wrote that the investigation concluded current levels of wood imports are “weakening our economy, resulting in the persistent threats of closures of wood mills and disruptions of wood product supply chains, among other things, and diminishing the utilization of production capacity of our domestic wood industry.” 

Ahead of the announcement, lumber futures dropped 23% to $535 earlier this month — the lowest level in nearly a year and a sign of weaker homebuilding demand. Homebuilders warn the new tariffs could further deter investment in new houses and renovations, Bloomberg reported. 

Canada, the U.S.' largest lumber trading partner, making up about a fifth of the market, is expected to feel the pressure the most.

Last week, Trump hinted that the tariffs might start higher instead of phasing in. The New York Times reported the White House was weighing a 50% tariff on imported kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, plus a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture.

The announcement follows a broader slate of tariffs — ranging from 25% to 100% on pharmaceuticals, semitrucks, kitchen cabinets and furniture — set to take effect Wednesday.

Trump also said he plans to slap a 100% tariff on films made overseas and shipped to the U.S.