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A series of fresh US tariffs targeting foreign-sourced kitchen cabinets, vanities, timber, and select upholstered furniture have come into force.

Following a executive order signed by President Donald Trump recently, a 10% duty on softwood lumber foreign shipments was activated starting Tuesday.

Import Duty Percentages and Upcoming Changes

A twenty-five percent tariff is likewise enforced on foreign-made kitchen cabinets and vanities – rising to fifty percent on January 1st – while a twenty-five percent tariff on upholstered wooden furniture is set to rise to 30%, except if updated trade deals get agreed upon.

Donald Trump has referenced the imperative to safeguard American producers and national security concerns for the move, but some in the industry worry the duties could raise home expenses and cause consumers delay home renovations.

Explaining Tariffs

Tariffs are levies on foreign products typically charged as a share of a product's price and are paid to the federal administration by companies shipping in the goods.

These firms may transfer a portion or the entirety of the increased charge on to their buyers, which in this case means typical American consumers and other US businesses.

Earlier Tariff Policies

The president's duty approaches have been a key feature of his second term in the White House.

The president has earlier enacted industry-focused duties on steel, copper, light metal, cars, and vehicle components.

Consequences for Canada

The supplementary international ten percent duties on wood materials signifies the material from the northern neighbor – the second largest producer worldwide and a significant domestic source – is now dutied at more than 45%.

There is presently a combined thirty-five point sixteen percent American countervailing and anti-dumping duties applied on the majority of Canadian producers as part of a decades-long conflict over the commodity between the both nations.

Bilateral Pacts and Exemptions

As part of existing bilateral pacts with the United States, tariffs on timber goods from the Britain will not go beyond ten percent, while those from the European community and Japan will not exceed fifteen percent.

White House Justification

The executive branch claims Donald Trump's tariffs have been implemented "to guard against risks" to the US's national security and to "strengthen factory output".

Industry Worries

But the Residential Construction Group stated in a statement in last month that the recent duties could escalate residential construction prices.

"These recent levies will create further obstacles for an presently strained homebuilding industry by additionally increasing development and upgrade charges," remarked head the group's leader.

Merchant Viewpoint

Based on a consulting group top official and retail expert Cristina Fernández, retailers will have little option but to raise prices on foreign products.

Speaking to a news outlet in the previous month, she noted stores would seek not to hike rates excessively before the holiday season, but "they can't absorb 30% duties on alongside previous levies that are currently active".

"They must pass through pricing, probably in the shape of a significant price increase," she remarked.

Furniture Giant Statement

Last month Swedish furniture giant the company commented the duties on imported furnishings make doing business "harder".

"These duties are influencing our business similarly to fellow businesses, and we are carefully watching the changing scenario," the company remarked.