The U.S. will levy sector-specific tariffs on a slew of new goods starting Oct. 1, President Donald Trump said Thursday evening.
In a Truth Social post, Trump outlined plans to impose a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and associated products, and a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture. It follows a “Tariff investigation” the Trump administration initiated in August looking into furniture imports, with plans to levy duties within 50 days.
In separate Truth Social posts, Trump also announced that he would install a 100% tariff on branded or patented pharmaceutical products and a 25% tariff on “‘Heavy (Big!) Trucks.’” The announcement comes about five months after the Commerce Department launched a Section 232 investigation into the pharmaceutical and trucking sectors.
Trump on Thursday cited national security as a rationale for the truck and furniture tariffs. Section 232 reviews focus on evaluating the national security implications of imported goods.
The announcement comes the same month the Trump administration expanded its list of sectors under Section 232 scrutiny. On Sept. 2, the Commerce Department launched an investigation into personal protective equipment, medical equipment and devices imports, while also opening a similar review of robotics and industrial machinery.
The Trump administration has instituted several duties using Section 232, including those on steel and aluminum, as well as cars and auto parts. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department is still investigating goods such as semiconductors, which could be precursors to additional tariffs.
Certain sector-specific tariffs have been adjusted under tariff deals and framework agreements the U.S. has struck with trading partners such as the European Union and Japan. However, Trump did not provide details about how these new tariffs might impact those agreements.
