When the White House announced on Friday that tariffs of 30% to 50% would be slapped on certain furniture and cabinetry imports starting October 1, the U.S. home furnishings sector braced for impact. The Home Furnishings Association (HFA)—the only group representing more than 1,400 retailers—warned members that the move could send supply chains and balance sheets into uncharted territory.
“For furniture retailers, these tariffs present both challenges and questions,” the HFA said in an alert. Higher import costs may be passed down to consumers just as inflation for living room, kitchen and dining room furniture hit 0.7% in August—outpacing overall price gains for the third month in a row.
One critical unknown is whether wood furniture and casegoods will fall under the so-called “associated products” category. The final definition could reshape how retailers source products, negotiate with vendors and plan holiday-season inventory.
Industry insiders doubt the tariffs will spark a quick return of production to U.S. soil. “It’s wishful thinking to expect large-scale upholstery production to come back overnight,” says Dennis Hendriks, vice president at luxury wholesaler Eichholtz. With factories, design studios and skilled labor entrenched overseas, rebuilding domestic capacity could take years.
John Miranda, executive vice president at U.S. manufacturer Jofran Inc., likens the situation to being handed a “plain white ball” without any rules. “We’re told to develop a game plan, but we don’t even know which sport we’re playing,” he wrote on LinkedIn, pointing to the uncertainty vendors face as the new tariffs loom.
As October 1 approaches, U.S. furniture retailers must decide whether to absorb higher costs, pass them onto shoppers or pivot their sourcing strategies—all without clarity on the rules of the game. The choices they make will shape the industry’s path forward and influence how Americans decorate their homes for years to come.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
