IKEA has responded to President Donald Trump’s decision to put new tariffs on imported furniture, saying American shoppers could soon see higher prices. The Swedish retailer said its goal is to keep furniture affordable, but tariffs make this much harder, as per Newsweek.
“Our goal is to offer affordable, good-quality home furnishings to everyone,” the company told Newsweek. “In our experience across the markets we operate in, tariffs make these ambitions more difficult.”
IKEA said it will try to keep costs low, but cannot promise prices will stay the same.
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What Donald Trump’s tariffs include
Last week, Trump announced on Truth Social that he was “imposing a 50 percent Tariff on all Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Vanities, and associated products,” starting October 1, 2025. Upholstered furniture, such as sofas and chairs, will face a 30 percent tariff. Other products were also hit, including a 100 percent tariff on patented drugs and a 25 percent tariff on heavy-duty trucks.
Trump argued that foreign products are “flooding” the US and threatening American jobs and national security.
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Why it matters for IKEA
The US is IKEA’s second-largest market after Germany. The company made $5.5 billion in sales in the United States last year. If prices rise, IKEA risks losing some of its cost-conscious customers.
The Commerce Department has been investigating America’s reliance on timber, lumber, and furniture imports since March under a national security review. Trump announced a “major tariff investigation” on furniture in August, promising that it would end within 50 days. But he moved ahead with tariffs before the results were released.
Consumer concerns
Consumer groups warn that the tariffs will raise costs for ordinary Americans. Ethan Weiland from the Consumer Federation of America told Newsweek, “The administration’s latest round of tariffs will increase prices and harm consumers.”
He added that tariffs on heavy trucks will push up transport costs, which companies will likely pass on to shoppers.
Melinda St. Louis, director at Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, explained to the outlet that Trump is using tariffs as a headline tool while keeping negotiations secret. She argued that tariffs alone cannot help workers unless paired with strong public investment and support for labor rights.
What’s next
The tariffs are set to take effect on Wednesday. Drug makers could avoid the new duties if they are building US factories. For IKEA, the coming weeks will show whether it can keep prices down, or whether American families will need to pay more for their favorite flat-pack furniture.
FAQs
Q1. Why is IKEA warning about higher prices in the US?
A1. IKEA says new tariffs on imported furniture make it harder to keep its products affordable, so customers may soon face higher prices.
Q2. What tariffs did President Trump announce on furniture?
A2. The new policy adds a 50 per cent tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, plus a 30 per cent tariff on upholstered furniture starting October 1, 2025.
Q3. How important is the US market for Ikea?
A3. The US is IKEA’s second-largest market after Germany, generating $5.5 billion in sales last year.
