This week, President Donald Trump introduced a new round of tariffs aimed at three key sectors: furniture, heavy-duty trucks, and branded pharmaceuticals. The measures are scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025, and are expected to influence both global sourcing decisions and domestic logistics strategies
The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts by the administration to promote domestic manufacturing and rebalance U.S. trade relationships. While some of the tariff impacts may be offset by existing exemptions or supply chain adjustments already underway, logistics operators and procurement leaders will need to assess how the new costs and sourcing constraints may affect their networks.
Furniture Tariffs and Upstream Pressures
The new policy imposes a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, along with a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture. These categories have already seen significant price increases over the past year, driven in part by earlier tariffs on imports from China and Vietnam—two of the top suppliers to the U.S. furniture market.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for living and dining room furniture have risen nearly 10% year-over-year as of August. With peak retail and renovation seasons approaching, these additional tariffs may contribute to higher landed costs and longer lead times, particularly for companies managing just-in-time inventories or dependent on finished goods imports.
Heavy Truck Imports and USMCA Questions
The administration also announced a 25% tariff on imported heavy-duty trucks. This could have wide-ranging implications for fleet operators, especially in construction, long-haul freight, and final-mile delivery segments.
Roughly 78% of heavy trucks imported into the U.S. arrive from Mexico, many of which currently qualify for tariff exemptions under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). However, it is not yet clear whether the new tariff will override existing trade terms for vehicles that meet the agreement’s content requirements. If USMCA exemptions remain in place, the direct impact on most inbound cross-border truck shipments may be limited. If not, capital expenditures for fleet upgrades could increase substantially, especially for operators facing compressed replacement cycles.
Pharmaceutical Tariffs and Cold Chain Considerations
Perhaps the most closely watched element of the policy package is the 100% tariff on branded and patented pharmaceutical imports. The tariff excludes generic medications, which account for about 90% of U.S. prescriptions, and does not apply to companies that are currently investing in U.S.-based manufacturing facilities.
Several major pharmaceutical manufacturers—including Roche, Novartis, and Eli Lilly—have ongoing or announced expansions in the United States, which may qualify them for exemptions. Even so, the tariff may lead to cost increases for certain specialty drugs, particularly those requiring temperature-controlled logistics or custom handling.
For logistics providers serving the pharmaceutical sector, the key considerations will be the stability of demand for imported branded drugs, the role of secondary packaging operations, and the potential for stockpiling or temporary shifts in inventory locations as companies respond to the policy change.
Strategic Outlook
While the immediate impact of these tariffs will vary by sector and supplier relationships, several broader trends are worth watching:
Procurement and sourcing teams may need to revisit regional diversification strategies and reevaluate reliance on Asia-Pacific production hubs.
Fleet managers should monitor whether imported vehicle tariffs apply under USMCA compliance, and reassess truck acquisition timelines accordingly.
Pharmaceutical logistics providers may face short-term complexity in managing tariff exposure, depending on the footprint of their customer base and product mix.
From a policy perspective, the administration has framed these measures as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers in critical industries. Whether the measures lead to durable changes in the location of production or simply temporary price adjustments remains to be seen.
For now, logistics professionals would be well served by mapping their exposure, engaging closely with upstream partners, and preparing for greater variability in cost structures and customs procedures starting in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The post New U.S. Tariffs on Furniture, Heavy Trucks, and Pharmaceuticals Set to Reshape Supply Chain Costs and Sourcing Strategies Starting October 1 appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.