Nailed by tariffs, caught in confusion: Singapore’s furniture firms brace for impact

[SINGAPORE] The Trump administration’s newly announced tariffs on furniture imports have left industry players grappling with uncertainty, with many questions still unanswered.

One key ambiguity is whether the new tariffs are on top of existing reciprocal tariff rates, or if only the higher rate applies, said Ernie Koh, executive director of Singapore-listed furniture maker Koda.

US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable style could also mean sudden changes, as seen in April when reprieves were granted shortly after reciprocal tariffs were announced. This possibility still looms, Koh noted.