This article is reprinted from [Xinhuanet Client];

Xinhua News Agency, New York, May 20th. Title: "Not Knowing What the Rules Are" - Uncertainty of US Tariff Policies Leaves the Home Furnishing Industry in Great Anxiety

The 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Exhibition was held in New York, the United States from May 18th to 20th. Many American and international home furnishing industry representatives told Xinhua News Agency reporters that the US government's imposition of tariffs not only hit the enterprises that import home furnishing finished products in the US, but also harmed the home furnishing producers that relied on imported components and raw materials. The uncertainty of tariff policies has filled industry representatives with anxiety.

On May 18th, guests held a group discussion on tariffs at the 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Exhibition held in New York. Xinhua News Agency photographer Liu Yanan took this photo.

The United States imports hundreds of billions of dollars worth of furniture and home furnishings each year. Data released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that in the first quarter of this year, the import value of home furnishings and home products in the US exceeded 10 billion US dollars. The imposition of tariffs by the US has caused home furnishing brands to feel the pressure of rising costs and has tried to respond by passing on costs and seeking alternative markets.

The representative of the Italian lighting and home furnishing brand Gaspare Assaro Design Company at the exhibition said that since all products are produced in Italy, in addition to the existing tariffs, the export from Italy to the US currently faces an additional 10% tariff. The future tariff policies still have great uncertainty, and the company can only pass on the tariff costs to consumers.

The lead designer of the interior design company Hollis and Morris from Toronto, Canada, Mishka Kufrett, said at the tariff issue discussion held at the exhibition that the company's revenue accounted for 80% from the neighboring US market. Under the influence of US tariff policies, the company went to Europe for market expansion for the first time this year.

The public relations department staff of the Japanese company Kari-Mu Co., Ltd., which participated in the first exhibition in New York, Tomomi Uchimura, said that the company has just entered the US market and conducts marketing through local partners. Under the influence of the US tariff policies, the company has expanded its market to Europe for the first time this year.

The company's chief designer, Misha Kufrett, of the Canadian interior design company Hollis and Morris, said at the tariff issue discussion held at the exhibition that 80% of the company's revenue comes from the neighboring US market. Under the influence of the US tariff policies, the company has gone to Europe to expand its market for the first time this year.

The company's public relations department staff of the Japanese company Kari-Mu Co., Ltd., which participated in the first exhibition in New York, Tomomi Uchimura, said that the company's components for production come from Canada, and many high-quality textiles come from Europe. The government's imposition of tariffs directly affects production, engineering projects, and even the production and operating costs of the entire industry. He said that the company has long had business dealings with China and imports power supplies and some components from China because these products cannot be found in suppliers in the US.

The vice president and general manager of HBF Textiles, a home furnishing and textile producer in North Carolina, Casey Baxter, said that the metal components used in the company's production come from Canada, and many high-quality textiles come from Europe. The government's imposition of tariffs directly affects production.

The regional manager of the Chicago furniture company Laquava, Javier Sandowar, said that the company imports a large amount of wood from Canada and components from China. The related business is affected by the tariff shock. Although the company has stocked some wood, the inventory is constantly decreasing and it needs to reorder. "The company is paying attention to policy developments every week."

The public relations department staff of the Connecticut furniture company Helle said that the components needed by the company come from China. The company's president and CEO, John Edelman, said that the key problem is that people do not know what the rules set by the US government are, which has led the company to be unable to make decisions. "For the economy and business, nothing is worse than being unable to make decisions."

On May 18th, at the 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Exhibition held in New York, the exhibition staff walked through the exhibition area of the US lighting design and manufacturing company Juniper Design Group. Xinhua News Agency photographer Liu Yanan took this photo. On May 18th, at the 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Exhibition held in New York, USA, people visited the exhibition area of the American lighting design and manufacturing company Juniper Design Group and the American North Carolina home and textile producer HBF Textiles. (Photo by Liu Yanan, Xinhua News Agency)

On May 18th, at the 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Exhibition held in New York, USA, people visited the exhibition area of the American Connecticut furniture company Heller. (Photo by Liu Yanan, Xinhua News Agency)

On May 18th, people visited the exhibition site of the 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Exhibition held in New York, USA. (Photo by Liu Yanan, Xinhua News Agency)

On May 18th, people visited the exhibition site of the 2025 International Contemporary Furniture Exhibition held in New York, USA. (Photo by Liu Yanan, Xinhua News Agency)