The North Carolina State Capitol contains a variety of historic and handcrafted furniture and furnishings. The state has earned a reputation as the furniture manufacturing capital of the world. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)
President Donald Trump announced “substantial” tariffs on imported furniture on Monday, a move that he said would help manufacturers in North Carolina.
“In order to make North Carolina, which has completely lost its furniture business to China, and other Countries, GREAT again, I will be imposing substantial Tariffs on any Country that does not make its furniture in the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Details to follow!!!”
Trump announced last week a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities and a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture. Those will take effect Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina refers to the Tar Heel state as the furniture capital of the world. There are more than 850 furniture manufacturers in the state, employing about 32,000 workers, according to its website. Major furniture manufacturers in North Carolina include Ashley Furniture, Lexington Home Brands and Ethan Allen.
According to the EDPNC, North Carolina is home to a furniture manufacturing workforce nearly four times larger than the national average, as well as more than 550 wood product manufacturing establishments and more than 650 textile and textile product mills.
The state also exports $296 million worth of furniture annually, which could be affected if countries retaliate with their own tariffs. Neighboring Mexico and Canada are some of the biggest importers of these goods.
Mike Hubbard, director of international trade at the EDPNC, said it’s uncertain for now whether other countries will retaliate.
“As we’re negotiating these trade agreements, it may be somewhat more of a moot point,” Hubbard said. “The only question outstanding would be, ‘What is the rate going to be?'”
China, Vietnam and Mexico are the biggest furniture exporters to the U.S., according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. Canada comes in fourth, and Italy, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and India round out the top 10.
In particular, North Carolina is known for its customizable upholstered furniture, which is more affordable and quicker for U.S. consumers to purchase domestically than overseas.
“Aside from just the fact that we’re good at it, and companies have reinvested so much,” Hubbard said, “you buy a sofa and your next-door neighbor wants the exact same one, and you don’t want your house to look the same, you can get whatever upholstery you want,” Hubbard said.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said he doesn’t understand how this tariff fits into Trump’s overall policy.
Stein said he thinks the economy is best served when there’s consistency, so that businesses have an expectation of policies and how to invest around them.
“When there’s wild fluctuations in policies, a great deal of uncertainty, you’ll see the business investments freeze, and there has been a diminishment in business investment across the country,” Stein said. “I would like to get off this roller coaster and have a lot more stability.”
Swedish company Ikea, which has 52 locations in the U.S. and is known for its affordable flat-pack pieces with self-assembly, has a store in Charlotte.
The company is anticipating higher prices for customers as a result of the tariffs, Newsweek reported.
“Our goal is to offer affordable, good-quality home furnishings to everyone,” an Ikea spokesperson told Newsweek. “In our experience across the markets we operate in, tariffs make these ambitions more difficult.”
Hence then, the article about trump says furniture tariffs will make nc great again consumer prices expected to rise was published today ( ) and is available on NC news line ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Trump says furniture tariffs will make NC great again; consumer prices expected to rise )
Also on site :
- I Thought My Daughter Was a Good Kid, but a Certain Habit of Hers Disturbs Me
- The 2025 Billboard K-Pop Artist 100
- Ukrainian investigative journalist ‘kidnapped’ by draft officers