Trump delays big tariffs on furniture, kitchen and bathroom cabinets for one year

President Trump is delaying higher tariffs on imported upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for one year, citing fruitful negotiations with trading partners.

The administration will keep the 25% tariff that Mr. Trump imposed on these products in September. But it held off on plans to increase the levies to 50% on cabinets and vanities, and 30% on upholstered furniture, as of Jan. 1.

“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 order says.

The president believes the tariffs will rejuvenate U.S. furniture-making in places like North Carolina, though he’s shown a willingness to adjust his levies based on negotiations with affected countries and industries.

Separately, the Italian foreign ministry said this week the U.S. drastically reduced proposed tariffs on Italian pasta makers as part of an anti-dumping probe.

The ministry said the U.S. Commerce Department reduced tariffs from 91.74% to 2.26% for La Molisana, 13.98% for Garofalo and 9.09% for 11 other producers.

“The re-determination of the tariff levels constitutes an acknowledgment by the U.S. authorities of the constructive cooperation shown by Italian companies,” Italian authorities said. “It also confirms the effectiveness of the support provided by the Italian Foreign Ministry and by the Italian government from the outset, which will continue to be ensured in view of the final determinations.”

The prospect of sky-high tariffs sparked big headlines. American noodle lovers feared that foreign-made pasta would get too pricey.

The administration cautioned that proposed tariff rates were preliminary assessments based on data it received from select pasta makers. The final, reduced tariff rates will be imposed once the dumping probe concludes in March.

The 11th-hour tariffs news, which unfolded over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, capped a wild tariff ride in 2025.

Mr. Trump says tariffs, which are levies on imported goods brought into U.S. markets, are a great way to create revenue, gain leverage over foreign nations and protect U.S. industries.

Critics of tariffs say they limit fruitful trade with other nations and raise prices in some instances, as companies pass along the cost of import duties to their customers.

Mr. Trump is wedded to tariffs but took an on-again, off-again approach to wielding them during the first year of his second term. He announced “Liberation Day” tariffs on dozens of trading partners in April, only to pause them to allow time for negotiations and tamp down a negative reaction on Wall Street and in the U.S. bond market.

By late summer, he had struck a series of deals with foreign partners to lower tariff rates and assigned new rates ranging from 10% to 50% on many nations.

He also lowered tariffs on Brazilian coffee, foreign fruits and imported beef this fall in a bid to lower grocery prices.

The administration said the adjustments were part of the negotiation process, but critics of the tariffs said the moves were a tacit acknowledgment that tariffs can raise consumer prices.

More tariff upheaval could be on the way.

The Supreme Court is considering a case that argues Mr. Trump overstepped in invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose blanket tariffs on other nations’ products.

Blue states and small businesses sued Mr. Trump over his use of IEEPA and won cases in the trade court and an appellate court.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case on Nov. 5.  Key justices seemed skeptical of the administration’s position, saying the Constitution tasks Congress with raising revenue.

The administration argued the president was attempting to regulate foreign trade, and any revenue was incidental to that aim.

The Treasury has collected tens of billions of dollars so far from all importers, and the administration estimated it would have to refund $750 billion to $1 trillion if an adverse ruling does not arrive until June.

Costco and other big companies have filed lawsuits to secure tariff refunds if the Supreme Court rules against Mr. Trump.