NextFin news, On Sunday, October 5, 2025, the Trump Administration issued a Presidential Proclamation imposing Section 232 tariffs on specified imports of softwood timber, lumber, and certain wooden furniture products, effective at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The tariffs follow an investigation launched in March 2025 into the impact of these imports on U.S. national security.
The tariffs apply to imports of softwood timber and lumber at a 10% ad valorem duty rate. Certain upholstered wooden furniture seats, kitchen cabinets, and vanities will face tariffs starting at 25%, with some rates increasing on January 1, 2026. Specifically, the duty on upholstered furniture seats will rise to 30%, and the duty on kitchen cabinets and vanities will increase to 50% unless the U.S. reaches agreements with exporting countries addressing national security concerns.
The affected products are classified under specific Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes, including 4403, 4406, 4407 for timber and lumber, and 9401 and 9403 for furniture and cabinets. Notably, plywood under HTS 4412 and most wooden furniture except kitchen cabinets, vanities, and upholstered seats are excluded from these tariffs.
The Proclamation also clarifies that these new Section 232 tariffs will not be stacked with existing reciprocal tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) or other tariffs on auto parts and certain countries. However, they may be applied alongside China-specific tariffs related to fentanyl and Section 301 measures.
The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to impose additional tariffs if undervaluation of wood products is detected and to consider requests for expanding the list of covered products. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to release further implementation details in the coming weeks.
The Trump Administration stated the tariffs aim to protect the U.S. timber and furniture industries and address the threatened impairment of national security posed by imports of these wood products. The RV Industry Association and other stakeholders are monitoring the situation closely and seeking clarifications, particularly regarding the treatment of lauan plywood imports.
For further information, Samantha Rocci, Director of Federal Affairs at the RV Industry Association, can be contacted at srocci@rvia.org.
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