A small part of the furniture industry is also affected by the import tariffs on steel and aluminium imposed by the US. The EU is currently considering countermeasures that could affect the entire wood industry. An overview of the events and our position.
© DreamstimePhoto: Dreamstime.
This is what happened:
The United States imposed import tariffs on steel and aluminium products on March 12. This also affects some furniture products (particularly office furniture). The number of affected items is small, and the damage to the industry is manageable.
This is what the EU is planning:
The EU is currently considering countermeasures against these US tariffs. Among other measures, it proposes imposing import tariffs on agricultural products and timber from the US. The EU is currently seeking comment from trade associations.
Their assessment:
The USA is an important export market for the German timber industry; German exports exceed imports by a factor of 12. The German timber industry primarily exports sawn timber products and furniture to the USA. German imports from the USA are comparatively small and have little impact on market activities in the EU.
The HDH therefore calls on the EU to exempt all wood and furniture products from the EU countermeasures. Their imposition would have barely noticeable effects on the US timber industry. However, if further US import tariffs were imposed on European wood and furniture products, the damage to the German timber industry would be disproportionately greater.
More information:
Main Association of the German Wood Industry (HDH)
info@holzindustrie.de
www.holzindustrie.de