US President Donald Trump has signed an order imposing tariffs of 10%-50% on a range of wood and furniture products, piling pressure on Vietnam’s exports. Starting October 14, 2025, imported softwood and sawn timber will face a 10% duty, while kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets and upholstered furniture will be levied at 25%. From January 1, 2026, the rates will rise to 30% for upholstered items and 50% for kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Experts warn the new policy could pose major challenges to the Vietnamese wood sector. In 2024, exports totaled US$16.25 billion. Over the past eight months of this year, shipments reached US$11.1 billion, up about 6.5% year-on-year, a modest yet encouraging result. The US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, China and the EU remained the top five markets, accounting for over 80% of total export value. …beyond the tariffs, Vietnamese exporters are also facing a Section 232 investigation by the US into plywood and decorative wood.