Truth Social post said that this is in response to export controls China is imposing effective Nov. 1 on “virtually every product” it manufactures
WASHINGTON — On Friday, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 100% tariffs on China effective Nov. 1 if not sooner in response to export controls China plans to implement the same date.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the export controls being imposed by China would be “on virtually every product they make, and some not even made by them.”
“This affects ALL Countries, without exception, and was obviously a plan devised by them years ago,” Trump said, noting that the 100% tariffs imposed by the U.S. could take effect sooner depending on any further actions or changes taken by China. “It is absolutely unheard of in International Trade, and a moral disgrace in dealing with other Nations.”
The president also said that effective Nov. 1, the U.S. will impose export controls on any and all critical software.
Trump said the 100% tariffs would fall on top of other tariffs applied to China-made products. This would likely include the previous 25% Section 301 tariffs imposed during his first administration and 30% reciprocal tariffs imposed earlier this past spring.
The news also follows the Sept. 29 announcement that the U.S. would impose 25% tariffs on several types of upholstery from most countries around the world. These rates rise to 30% Jan. 1.
It was immediately unclear whether those tariffs on China-made upholstery will be in addition to the proposed 100% rates on China, plus the additional Section 301 and reciprocal tariffs.
However, Trump’s statement on Truth social indicates the U.S. plans to hit China as hard as possible in the current trade environment.
“It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is History,” Trump said in response to China’s export controls. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
China remains among the largest exporters of furniture to the U.S. market, shipping an estimated $9.6 billion in wood furniture, upholstery, metal furniture and bedding to the U.S. last year, up 2.2% from 9.3 billion in 2023.
This compared with $10.4 billion in furniture shipments from the number one exporter Vietnam, up 21.6% from $8.6 billion in 2023.
The news comes just two weeks before the October High Point Market, likely disrupting pricing and planned sourcing on products to be shown at the fall event.
“Suppliers had just adjusted pricing to account for the recent upholstery tariff changes, and now this new 100% layer hits barely two weeks before market,” one industry observer noted. “For those sourcing from China, it’s complete whiplash — they’ll have to re-scramble pricing models, quotes, and product sheets yet again. Every time they think they understand the rules, the rules change.”