Trump delays new tariff hike on furniture, kitchen cabinets

[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump delayed tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities, easing the pace of his levies as voter frustration over price levels continues to simmer.

The White House published a fact sheet on the presidential proclamation late Wednesday (Dec 31), while Trump hosted a New Year’s Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The higher tariffs were due to take effect on Thursday, but are now set to take effect Jan 1, 2027, according to the fact sheet.

Under a September proclamation, Trump had originally directed that tariffs on “certain upholstered wooden products” would rise to 30 per cent on Jan 1 from 25 per cent, while tariffs on kitchen cabinets and vanities would rise to 50 per cent from 25 per cent. His Wednesday proclamation delayed that move, and the existing 25 per cent tariff remains in place, the White House said.

The US “continues to engage in productive negotiations with trade partners to address trade reciprocity and national security concerns with respect to imports of wood products”, according to the fact sheet, suggesting that talks may yield pacts to further defer the new levies. BLOOMBERG