The Association of the German Furniture Industry has urged the European Commission to act after the United States announced plans to impose import tariffs of 50% on kitchen and bathroom furniture and 30% on upholstered furniture, effective from 1 October 2025. Managing director Jan Kurth stated that the existing EU-US tariff agreement limits duties on European imports to 15%, and called on the Commission to ensure that this commitment is upheld.
German kitchen furniture exports to the U.S. fell by 17.4% to around Euro 26 million between January and July 2025, compared to a 13% increase to Euro 50 million in the same period of the previous year. In an August survey conducted by the association, 80% of German kitchen furniture producers said they expect future export losses if the U.S. proceeds with the announced measures. Exports of upholstered furniture rose by 2.5% to just under Euro 12 million over the same period.
The association issued its statement in response to former President Donald Trump’s August post on Truth Social, in which he said the planned tariffs were intended to protect domestic manufacturing jobs in states including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Michigan. The proposed measures are linked to the Commerce Department’s ongoing Section 232 investigation under the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, which covers timber, lumber, and wood products including furniture.
