Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are having unintended consequences for the furniture industry, with both U.S. and international manufacturers reporting higher costs, disrupted operations, and mounting uncertainty.
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At the 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, designers and executives expressed growing concern over how the trade policies are impacting their businesses. Mischa Couvrette, lead designer at Toronto-based Hollis Morris, said the U.S. tariffs have landed "like a hammer," forcing the company to seek new markets in Europe despite having 80 percent of its sales in the U.S.
Italian studio Gaspare Asaro reported a 10 percent U.S. tariff, compounded by currency exchange issues, adding a further 5 percent to production costs. These increases are being passed on to customers, the company stated.
Even U.S. manufacturers, expected to benefit from protectionist measures, are not immune. Shant Madjarian, president of New York-based Juniper Design Group, said the tariffs have introduced "uncertainty" and disrupted multiple sectors, including manufacturing, design and project development. 'There hasn't been a policy change that has shaken so many industries,' he added.
Casey Baxter, vice president of HBF and HBF Textiles, noted that despite being a domestic producer, the company remains exposed due to reliance on imported materials like Canadian metals and European textiles. 'We're proud to be a domestic manufacturer, but we're not unscathed,' said Baxter.
While some firms have absorbed minor surcharges, others say cost pressures are making it harder to maintain sustainability initiatives and competitive pricing.
As the trade environment grows increasingly volatile, industry leaders agree that the uncertainty caused by the tariffs is as damaging as the added expenses themselves.
Source: www.bignewsnetwork.com