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A series of fresh United States tariffs targeting foreign-sourced kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, timber, and select upholstered furniture have come into force.

Under a presidential directive signed by President Donald Trump recently, a ten percent duty on wood materials imports came into play on Tuesday.

Import Duty Percentages and Upcoming Changes

A twenty-five percent duty is also imposed on foreign-made kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities – rising to fifty percent on January 1st – while a 25% tariff on wooden seating with fabric is set to rise to thirty percent, unless new trade agreements are reached.

Donald Trump has pointed to the imperative to protect US manufacturers and national security concerns for the action, but some in the industry fear the duties could increase residential prices and lead consumers put off residential upgrades.

Defining Customs Duties

Import taxes are taxes on foreign products commonly applied as a share of a product's cost and are submitted to the American authorities by businesses importing the products.

These companies may shift part or the whole of the extra cost on to their clients, which in this scenario means typical American consumers and other US businesses.

Previous Tariff Policies

The leader's import tax strategies have been a central element of his second term in the executive office.

Donald Trump has previously imposed sector-specific duties on metal, copper, aluminium, automobiles, and car pieces.

Consequences for Canada

The extra global 10% duties on softwood lumber means the commodity from the northern neighbor – the major international source internationally and a significant US supplier – is now taxed at over forty-five percent.

There is currently a combined thirty-five point sixteen percent American offsetting and trade remedy levies imposed on nearly all northern industry players as part of a years-old dispute over the commodity between the both nations.

Commercial Agreements and Limitations

Under current trade deals with the America, levies on timber goods from the Britain will not exceed ten percent, while those from the European Union and Japan will not surpass 15%.

Administration Justification

The White House says Trump's tariffs have been put in place "to defend from threats" to the America's national security and to "bolster factory output".

Sector Concerns

But the National Association of Homebuilders stated in a release in the end of September that the new levies could raise residential construction prices.

"These new tariffs will create further obstacles for an presently strained housing market by even more elevating development and upgrade charges," remarked chairman the group's leader.

Merchant Viewpoint

Based on an advisory firm senior executive and retail expert Cristina Fernández, stores will have little option but to hike rates on foreign products.

During an interview with a news outlet last month, she noted stores would try not to raise prices drastically ahead of the holiday season, but "they can't absorb thirty percent tariffs on alongside other tariffs that are already in place".

"They must pass through pricing, probably in the form of a significant cost hike," she added.

Retail Leader Reaction

Recently Swedish retail major Ikea commented the duties on imported furnishings cause operating "harder".

"These duties are impacting our company in the same way as fellow businesses, and we are closely monitoring the changing scenario," the enterprise said.