President Donald Trump put the brakes on looming tariff hikes for upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities, backing off steeper levies just hours before they were set to hit as voter frustration over high prices continues to simmer.
The White House published a fact sheet late Wednesday detailing a presidential proclamation that delays the increases by a year, to Jan. 1, 2027.
“The United States continues to engage in productive negotiations with trade partners to address trade reciprocity and national security concerns with respect to imports of wood products,” the fact sheet explained.
Under a September proclamation, Trump ordered tariffs on “certain upholstered furniture” to rise to 30% from 25%, while tariffs on kitchen cabinets and vanities were set to double to 50%.
Wednesday’s proclamation, which came as Trump hosted a New Year’s Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago, Fla., estate, halts that escalation for now.
The existing 25% tariff on all three product categories will remain in place, the White House said.
The delay eases the pace of Trump’s trade levies at a moment when price levels remain a sensitive political issue, particularly for household goods tied closely to consumer spending and home improvement.
Furniture and cabinetry are large-ticket purchases for many families, and industry executives have warned that higher tariffs would be passed along quickly in the form of higher retail prices.
The White House framed the delay as part of a broader negotiating strategy rather than a retreat from its trade agenda.
“Given the ongoing productive negotiations regarding the imports of wood products, the President is delaying the tariff increase to allow for further negotiations to occur with other countries. ,” the fact sheet said.
That language suggests talks could yield agreements that further defer or reshape the planned tariff increases before the new 2027 deadline.
By structuring tariffs in phases, the White House previously signaled an intent to ratchet up pressure on foreign suppliers over time while giving importers and retailers time to adjust.
The second phase, now delayed, would have sharply raised costs for a range of furniture and cabinetry.
Retailers and importers had been bracing for the Jan. 1 increase, with many warning that the jump to 50% tariffs on on kitchen cabinets and vanities would be difficult to absorb without immediate price hikes or product cutbacks.
The one-year delay gives companies more runway to manage inventories, negotiate with suppliers or shift sourcing, though it does not eliminate the underlying tariff burden.
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, inflation and cost-of-living concerns have emerged as major hot-button issues, with the White House continuing to defend tariffs as a tool to protect US industries and extract concessions from trading partners.
The Post has sought comment from the White House.
