President Trump announced August 22, 2025 Section 232 national security investigation into furniture imports, threatening tariffs within 50 days on $25.5 billion annual U.S. furniture market dominated by Vietnam and China suppliers.

Vietnam and China account for approximately 60% of U.S. furniture imports worth $15.3 billion annually, making them primary targets for tariffs ranging from existing 20% (Vietnam) to 30% (China) rates that could increase further.

Furniture retail stocks crashed on tariff announcement: RH fell 7.5%, Wayfair declined 6.2%, Williams-Sonoma dropped as investors fled companies dependent on import supply chains for business models.

Domestic furniture manufacturers La-Z-Boy and Ethan Allen saw stock prices rise as investors anticipated benefiting from reduced import competition despite limited U.S. production capacity to meet demand.

Existing country-specific furniture tariffs already pushed home furnishing prices up 1.4% in three months ending June 2025, representing significant acceleration from decades of declining furniture costs.

American Home Furnishings Alliance opposes Section 232 tariffs as lacking rational national security justification, arguing furniture imports pose no defense or economic threat requiring emergency trade measures.

U.S. furniture manufacturing employment collapsed from 681,000 workers in 2000 to 340,000 today, eliminating production capacity that tariffs cannot quickly restore while consumer demand continues growing.

National Retail Federation estimates furniture tariffs could cost American consumers additional $8.5-13.1 billion annually, with families bearing import tax burden through higher retail prices on essential home furnishings.