On 2 April 2025, President Donald Trump officially announced the “Liberation Day” tariffs, imposing new duties on imports into the United States, with few countries spared. This move followed a 1 March 2025 White House announcement that President Trump had signed an Executive Order initiating an investigation into whether imports of timber, lumber, and derivative products pose a threat to America’s national security and economic stability.
The newly imposed tariffs are not product specific and will include a wide range of products imported into the US. Wood product and log export countries specifically targeted with higher tariffs include China (34% additional to existing tariffs equalling to a total of 54%), Vietnam (46%), EU countries (20%), Indonesia (32%), and Malaysia (24%). Canada and Mexico are already subjected to the 25% fentanyl/migration tariff on top of existing tariffs. A White House fact sheet, released on 2 April 2025 does mention that copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber articles are not subjected to the reciprocal “Liberation Day” tariffs but lack detail on the definition of lumber articles.
These measures are expected to significantly reshape global wood trade flows. Some countries may begin shifting their focus away from the US market, while others—less affected by the new tariffs—could seek to expand their exports to the United States. To better understand these dynamics, Margules Groome analysed 2024 US log and wood product import data.
According to UN COMTRADE data, the US imported log and wood products (including primary, secondary, and tertiary/manufactured goods—from logs to furniture) from 174 countries in 2024. The total value of these imports was USD 47.3 billion.
Primary and Secondary Wood Products
When considering primary and secondary products—such as roundwood, sawn timber, board products, veneer, and wood chips—Canada was by far the largest exporter, accounting for USD 9.1 billion of the USD 15.4 billion total. Lumber (USD 5.6 billion) and particle board (USD 2.3 billion) comprised the bulk of Canada’s exports. Germany ranked second, exporting USD 764 million worth of timber products, with lumber (USD 579 million), plywood (USD 17.3 million), and veneer sheets (USD 14.9 million) making up the main categories. Chile, Brazil, and Vietnam rounded out the top five timber exporters to the US (see Figure 1).
Figure 1:
Top Five Primary and Secondary Wood Product Exporters to the US in 2024
Thirteen countries, each exporting over USD 100 million in wood products, accounted for 91% of the United States’ primary and secondary wood imports in 2024 (Table 1). The leading imported products were lumber, valued at USD 7.8 billion, and plywood, at USD 3.2 billion (Figure 2).
Table 1:
Main Primary and Secondary Wood Exporters to the US in 2024
| Country | Export Value (USD million) | Percentage (%) |
| Canada | 9 076.4 | 58.9 |
| Germany | 763.8 | 5.0 |
| Chile | 712.2 | 4.6 |
| Brazil | 672.3 | 4.4 |
| Vietnam | 596.5 | 3.9 |
| Indonesia | 500.1 | 3.2 |
| Sweden | 372.5 | 2.4 |
| China | 354.2 | 2.3 |
| Cambodia | 257.7 | 1.7 |
| New Zealand | 237.1 | 1.5 |
| Malaysia | 182.3 | 1.2 |
| Latvia | 169.0 | 1.1 |
| Austria | 146.9 | 1.0 |
| Other | 1 368.9 | 8.9 |
| World | 15 410.1 | 100.0 |
Figure 2:
Primary and Secondary Wood Product Imported into the US in 2024
Manufactured Wood Products
The value of tertiary, or manufactured wood products imported into the US in 2024 was more than double that of primary and secondary products. These include furniture, carpentry (e.g., windows and doors), engineered wood products (e.g., CLT, GLT, I-beams), and flooring. Total manufactured wood imports amounted to USD 31.9 billion from 164 countries.
Wooden furniture and furniture components dominated this category, valued at USD 27.1 billion, followed by carpentry items (USD 2.6 billion), flooring (USD 1.6 billion), and engineered products (USD 586 million). The top exporters of manufactured wood products to the US were Vietnam (USD 11.5 billion), China (USD 4.8 billion), and Canada (USD 3.6 billion). Eight countries exported over USD 1 billion each, accounting for 85% of the total value (Table 2).
Table 2:
Main Manufactured Wood Product Exporters to the US in 2024
| Country | Export Value (USD million) | Percentage (%) |
| Vietnam | 11 455.0 | 35.9 |
| China | 4 831.9 | 15.2 |
| Canada | 3 602.6 | 11.3 |
| Mexico | 2 252.6 | 7.1 |
| Malaysia | 1 466.3 | 4.6 |
| Italy | 1 441.4 | 4.5 |
| Indonesia | 1 188.9 | 3.7 |
| Brazil | 1 015.2 | 3.2 |
| Other | 4 629.9 | 14.5 |
| World | 31 883.7 | 100.0 |
Case Study – Implications of Trade Tariffs for the Chinese Furniture and Interior Decoration Sector
According to Fordaq, China imported 10.11 million cubic metres of non-coniferous (hardwood) lumber in 2024, at an average price of USD 344 per cubic metre. The furniture and interior decoration sector—serving both domestic and export markets—is the primary consumer of these hardwood imports.
China’s vast furniture industry depends on high-quality imported hardwoods, both tropical (e.g., teak, meranti) and temperate (e.g., oak, ash, walnut), for manufacturing furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and other interior wood products. U.S.-sourced hardwoods are particularly valued for veneer and solid wood applications in high-end furniture. This segment alone is estimated to account for 15% of China’s total wood use by volume.
The introduction of US tariffs on lumber and related products is expected to create complex knock-on effects across supply chains. China’s reliance on US hardwoods, combined with imports from other regions that may also face indirect impacts, could lead to cost increases, supply disruptions, and sourcing shifts. The full ramifications of these changes will only become clear over time as manufacturers adapt and global trade patterns respond to evolving policies.
Case Study – Implications of Trade Tariffs on the Vietnamese Furniture Sector
Vietnam is the world’s second-largest exporter of wood furniture—after China—and its industry depends heavily on imported wood raw materials. Annually, Vietnam imports 4 to 5 million cubic metres (roundwood equivalent) of logs and sawn timber. In 2022, total wood raw material imports reached USD 2.62 billion, with sawn timber accounting for roughly 40% (USD 1.05 billion).
Vietnam’s lumber is sourced globally: temperate hardwoods from the US and EU, tropical hardwoods from Cameroon, Angola, and Congo, and softwoods from New Zealand and Chile. Imported logs are mainly tropical hardwoods, while imported sawnwood includes both hardwood boards and some softwoods.
The furniture and wood product sector—primarily export-oriented—is the dominant consumer of imported timber. It uses high-grade lumber for solid wood furniture, veneered furniture, panels, and flooring. Domestic plantation species (e.g., acacia, rubberwood) supply a smaller share and are typically used for lower-end products like pulp and wood chips. Imported hardwoods such as oak, walnut, and ash are essential for producing premium goods, much of which is re-exported.
More than 80% of Vietnam’s imported timber is used in the production of furniture and interior wood products. As such, the country has become a global hub for processing and adding value to imported wood before re-exporting it.
The new US tariffs may significantly disrupt this model. As a leading supplier of wood furniture to the US, Vietnam is vulnerable to shifts in US trade policy. If Vietnamese exports face new duties or if upstream supply chains are affected by tariffs on lumber from key source countries, manufacturers may see increased costs and reduced competitiveness.
These cascading effects could lead to input shortages, higher prices, and forced changes in sourcing and production strategies. While Vietnam’s industry is adaptable, the longer-term effects will depend on global supply chain responses, trade realignments, and any alternative market opportunities that arise.
In Summary
The “Liberation Day” tariffs are likely to reshape the global log and wood products trade in complex and far-reaching ways. While the impacts on primary and secondary products are substantial, the effect on manufactured wood products—due to their larger trade volume and higher value—will be even more pronounced.
Countries such as China and Vietnam are expected to be among the most severely affected. However, the cascading effects are not limited to direct exporters. Even regions like Africa, which accounted for only USD 103 million of US timber imports in 2024, may be indirectly affected as global trade flows shift.
The long-term implications will depend on how supply chains adjust, how trade partners respond, and whether alternative markets emerge to absorb redirected flows. Close monitoring and further analysis will be necessary to understand the full impact on the global timber economy.