US slaps new tariffs on furniture imports, widens blacklist of Chinese companies

US President Donald Trump has declared his administration will start slapping steep tariffs on countries that export furniture to America, putting China in the crosshairs of his efforts to bring manufacturing back to his country again, even amid ongoing high-level efforts between Washington and Beijing aimed at resolving their trade differences.

In a separate move, Chinese companies and their subsidiaries will be targeted by an expansion to the reach of a US Commerce Department trade blacklist.

“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. Details to follow!!! President DJT,” Trump vowed in one of a flurry of posts on Truth Social platform on Monday morning.

Trump’s tariff policy stems from his promises to help the furniture industry “return” to states like North Carolina, South Carolina and Michigan.

In August, Trump already suggested at a cabinet meeting that duties could reach 100 or even 200 per cent, while signalling that the measures would be implemented “pretty quickly”.

“That [furniture] business was stolen from us by others, not only China,” he said. “All of a sudden, you’re ordering furniture from China.”