What's the Tariff on Furniture (Sofa)?

The sofa tariff at 50% under Section 232 represents an unexpected expansion of national security trade authority into household furniture — a classification that surprised trade lawyers when announced in March 2026. China dominates US furniture imports, having captured 60% of the market through massive factory complexes in Foshan and Dongguan that produce everything from IKEA basics to Restoration Hardware frames. Vietnam has grown rapidly as a furniture exporter, especially after 2018 tariffs first targeted Chinese furniture. The 50% tariff makes a $1,299 sofa cost $1,949, pushing furniture purchases into major financial decision territory for middle-class families. The average American replaces a sofa every 7-15 years, so the tariff catches consumers at an unavoidable replacement cycle. US furniture manufacturing, once centered in North Carolina's High Point region, has shrunk to a fraction of its peak — rebuilding domestic capacity would require years and billions in investment. The tariff also disrupts the booming direct-to-consumer furniture market (Article, Burrow, Interior Define) that depends on imported manufacturing.