By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump signed a New Year’s Eve proclamation delaying higher tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for one year, citing continued trade negotiations.
The order, signed Wednesday, keeps in place a 25% tariff imposed in September on those products but postpones planned increases that would have raised the rate to 30% on upholstered furniture and 50% on kitchen cabinets and vanities. Those higher tariffs had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
The furniture tariffs are part of a broader set of import taxes Trump has imposed to address trade imbalances and related economic concerns. The president has argued that the measures are necessary to “bolster American industry and protect national security.”
The delay reflects the ongoing volatility of Trump’s tariff strategy since returning to office last year. The administration has frequently announced new levies with little warning, only to delay or reverse them shortly afterward.
On Wednesday, the administration also signaled it may step back from a proposed tariff on Italian pasta that would have raised duties to as high as 107%. The U.S. had threatened the steep tariff after the Commerce Department launched an antidumping review, alleging that Italian pasta producers were selling products in the U.S. at below-market prices and harming domestic competitors.
A final decision on the pasta tariffs had been set for Jan. 2, with the possibility of an extension. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that a new review found the producers had addressed many of its concerns, prompting a reduction in the proposed tariff range to between 2.26% and 13.89%. A final ruling is now scheduled for March 12.
Italian farm lobby Coldiretti and food industry group Filiera Italia welcomed the development. Both organizations had strongly opposed the original proposal and urged the Italian government to intervene.
The groups said the initial tariff plan would have effectively doubled the cost of a plate of pasta for American families, while encouraging imitation “Italian-sounding” products and hurting authentic Italian exports.
They reported that Italian pasta exports to the United States totaled €671 million (about $787 million) in 2024.
“Coldiretti and Filiera Italia will continue to defend our premium pasta in the U.S. market,” the groups said in a statement, noting they have backed the effort with an international media campaign.
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