Trump Signs Wood Tariffs; Canada Hardest Hit

President Trump on Sept. 29 signed a Section 232 proclamation imposing a 10% tariff on softwood timber and lumber and a 25% duty on imported kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and certain upholstered wood products, with the measures delayed until Oct. 14. The White House said levies will rise on Jan. 1, 2026 — to 50% on cabinets/vanities and 30% on certain upholstered items — unless countries negotiate agreements to avoid the higher rates. The proclamation exempts or caps rates for countries with recent trade agreements, notably the U.K., the EU and Japan. Canada, the largest supplier of U.S. softwood, is expected to be hit hardest; Ottawa has proposed up to C$1.2 billion in aid and Canadian industry groups sharply criticized the move. Critics warn the tariffs will raise lumber and housing costs and strain North American markets; legal challenges continue, and the Supreme Court is set to consider the administration’s broader tariff program as part of a wider campaign targeting other sectors.