WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance (AKCA) submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of the Section 232 investigation on Timber, Lumber and Derivatives (including cabinets) urging action to level the playing field with countries exporting subsidized cabinets to the U.S., and save U.S. jobs. 

Over the past decade, the AKCA said that cabinet imports, many of which the group said were sold at prices often over 60% below that of the domestic market, are flooding into the United States.

President Trump launched the Section 232 investigation on March 1, 2025, aimed at "protecting national and economic security." Cabinet manufacturing plays a critical role in housing infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and military readiness. The industry can also respond in times of natural disaster and crisis. 

The U.S. kitchen cabinet industry supports more than 250,000 American jobs across the nation and is more than $12 billion industry.

“American cabinet manufacturing plants like mine cannot compete with foreign countries flooding the market with unfairly traded cabinets which has resulted in an estimated $6.5 billion in lost revenue to the domestic industry over the last five years,” said Perry Miller, president of Kountry Wood Products. “Foreign imports primarily from Cambodia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam that are heavily subsidized are destroying American cabinet jobs. In 2024 alone, imports totaled $3.7 billion and many cabinet products are being moved through illegal transshipment routes.”

Stephen Wellborn, co-owner at Wellborn Cabinet, added that “The domestic cabinet industry is on the brink of collapse and we applaud President Trump for launching the Section 232 investigation to save American manufacturing jobs. We are asking for a Section 232 tariff of at least 60%, to level the playing field and stop the cheating as we seek to protect over 250,000 American jobs.”

The AKCA’s submission stresses that to be effective, no exceptions or exemptions should be granted for any kitchen and bathroom cabinetry or component parts thereof. The AKCA believes that a strong Section 232 tariff will help revitalize American manufacturing, protect U.S. timber and lumber industries, and restore confidence in domestic investment.

When it comes to the cabinet industry, AKCA members have sufficient domestic capacity to meet national demand. In fact, the industry stands ready to rapidly ramp up production if imports are fairly regulated. Without swift and decisive action, the nation risks losing its cabinet manufacturing sector in the same manner the country lost furniture and textiles.

Learn more at kitchencabinetfairtrade.org.