As of April 25, 2025, global trade tensions have intensified. The U.S. has introduced a new wave of tariffs on Chinese imports, and retaliatory measures are already underway. For manufacturers and suppliers, especially those in the wood products sector, this is a moment of renewed uncertainty.

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.

President Trump has paused additional tariffs for most counties in the world – keeping the minimum 10 percent across the board reciprocal tariffs announced earlier this month. While pumping the brakes on tariffs in other countires, at least temporarily, Trump hit China hard by increasing that number to 145% on Chinese goods imported to the U.S.

Evolutions Flooring Inc., a South San Francisco, California-based importer of multilayered wood flooring, and its owners, Mengya Lin and Jin Qian, have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by "knowingly and improperly evading customs duties on imports of multilayered wood flooring from the People’s Republic of China (PRC)," according to a March 25 statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

WASHINGTON -- After repeatedly saying that the U.S. didn't need Canadian lumber and numerous repeated threats to add to import taxes to a big chunk of U.S. wood supply, lumber has been left out of Trump's tariff blitz. When President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on a list of dozens of countries, lumber, composite wood panels and related products and other USMCA-compliant goods from Canada and Mexico were exempted.

President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on a list of dozens of countries but only by half of what he could have been levied, he said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two associations representing dealers of lumber and building materials are opposing tariffs or urging caution on tariff implementation, while a coalition of lumber producers continue to show strong support for President Trump's proposed tariffs on lumber and other materials and goods. The North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) released a statement March 24 opposing the tariffs.

President Trump has enacted additional tariffs. This time with countries in Europe and as a result the European Commission is ready to retaliate with tariffs of its own including tariffs on a variety of wood products from the United States.

The Secretary of Commerce has initiated an investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of wood products: timber, lumber, and their derivative products. This investigation has been initiated under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. 

President Trump ordered Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to double tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada in retaliation for the government in Ontario, Canada, for increasing tariffs on "electricity."