Higher tariffs that were planned to start on Jan. 1 will not begin this year. Upholstered furniture was set to face a higher 30% tariff. Kitchen cabinets and vanities were set to face a much higher 50% tariff, according to AP. Trump said the reason for delaying the higher tariffs is that trade talks are still ongoing. The tariffs are part of a broader effort by Trump to place taxes on imported goods.
Trump tariff delay
The administration says these taxes are meant to address trade imbalances and other economic concerns. Trump has said the furniture tariffs are needed to “bolster American industry and protect national security. Because the higher tariffs are delayed, shoppers may not see immediate price increases on these furniture items. The move adds to what AP called a “rollercoaster” year for U.S. trade policy.
Since returning to office last year, Trump has repeatedly announced tariffs and then delayed or reversed them with little warning. In early 2025, from January to March, Trump focused new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. During the same period, the U.S. raised steel and aluminum import taxes worldwide to 25%, expanding tariffs first set in 2018.
Liberation Day tariffs
In April, Trump announced wide-ranging “Liberation Day” tariffs on nearly every country. Those April announcements caused the stock market to fall sharply. Trump later said it was a “great time to buy” before delaying many of those tariffs just hours later, as noted by AP. China was treated differently, as the U.S. and China hit each other with repeated tariff increases. Tariffs between the two countries climbed as high as 145% for U.S. goods and 125% for Chinese goods.
A 25% tariff on imported cars also began, creating uncertainty for the auto industry. Trading partners such as Canada responded with retaliation. From May to July, the Trump administration promoted trade “framework” deals with countries like China, the U.K., and Vietnam. At the same time, letters were sent to dozens of countries warning that higher tariffs were coming. Trade tensions increased sharply with Brazil and India during this period.
Trump also raised steel and aluminum tariffs again, this time to 50%. A major legal challenge against Trump’s tariff powers gained ground in federal court. One court blocked some tariffs imposed under emergency powers. An appeals court later paused that decision, allowing tariff collections to continue while the case moved forward. In August, higher U.S. tariffs took effect on goods from more than 60 countries and the European Union. Canada’s tariff rate was raised separately to 35%.
Supreme court tariff fight and new import taxes
New 50% tariffs on goods from Brazil and India also began. A 50% tariff on most imported copper worldwide took effect, as stated by AP report. Low-value imports lost their duty-free status after the end of the “de minimis” rule. The U.S. extended its trade truce with China during this period. A U.S. appeals court ruled that Trump went too far in declaring national emergencies to justify tariffs. The court did not fully strike down the tariffs, allowing the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court. From September through December, the Trump administration formally took its tariff case to the Supreme Court.
During early arguments, Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of Trump’s authority to impose such broad tariffs. Despite legal uncertainty, Trump continued to promise new sector-specific tariffs. A 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets and other furniture officially took effect during this period. Other threatened tariffs were delayed as inflation and price pressures grew. Trump lowered or removed some earlier tariffs on goods like beef and fruit to ease prices.
The president also suggested Americans could receive a $2,000 dividend from tariff revenue, as stated by AP report. Details about that proposed payment remain unclear. For shoppers, the one-year delay means furniture prices may stay more stable in the short term. However, future prices will still depend on how Trump’s trade talks and tariff decisions unfold.
FAQs
Q1. Why did Trump delay furniture tariffs for one year?
He delayed them because trade talks are still going on and higher prices could hurt shoppers.
Q2. Will furniture prices go up in 2026?
Prices may rise later if higher tariffs are added after the one-year delay.