Softwood products imported into the U.S. are subject to a 10 per cent tariff as from October 14, 2025, while upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets to an initial 25 per cent tariff.
Notably, these rates are set to increase significantly from the beginning of next year, posing substantial challenges for Vietnam and other countries exporting wood and furniture to the U.S.
In the current context, according to Capital Economics, the U.S. imports nearly 20 per cent of its furniture from Vietnam, ranking second after China (27 per cent) and on par with Mexico.
With Vietnamese wood and furniture exports to the U.S. also subject to a 25 per cent tariff from October 14, the pressure on pricing and competitiveness for Vietnamese businesses is evident.
In response, the Vietnam Timber & Forest Products Association (VIFORES) has encouraged Vietnamese companies to increase the use of American wood materials in production.
Additionally, experts recommend that the wood industry diversify its markets, targeting Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and China to offset declines in the U.S. market, while also upgrading products to meet international standards and offer unique designs.
Mr. Vu Quang Huy, Chairman and CEO of TEKCOM Corporation believes the key is to find solutions to adapt and change. "Fundamentally, the U.S. lacks the advantage to produce wood and furniture and will continue to import," he added. "The core issue is how businesses can quickly adapt and understand the tax policies applied to countries competing with Vietnam."
In addition, the plywood sector is opening up many export opportunities for businesses. However, Mr. Huy also points out Vietnam's limitations, such as only producing base plywood due to a lack of large, light-colored, defect-free trees for veneer production, leading to imports.
To enhance the value of Vietnam's plywood industry, Mr. Huy suggests building a brand focused on rubber wood, investing in technology and R&D to develop products, and creating sustainable competitive advantages.
Furthermore, Mr. Nguyen Huu Linh, Director of TEKCOM's Plywood & Technical Division believes the most significant shift is not just expanding scale but automating and managing quality based on data. Previously, production was manual or semi-automated; now, the company focuses on automation and real-time quality management systems for precise decision-making.
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