WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) today expressed strong support for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 investigation, with CPA membership submitting formal comments to Commerce as part of the Section 232 investigation on Timber, Lumber and Derivatives (including cabinets). CPA members—domestic manufacturers that are committed to making products right here in the U.S.—have been harmed for decades by underpriced imports. Throughout the past decade alone, underpriced cabinet imports have oversaturated the market, many of them sold at prices that are often over 60% below that of the domestic market.
When President Trump’s team at Commerce launched the Section 232 investigation in March, the crackdown was aimed at better protecting both the American economy, and also national security. In the U.S., cabinet manufacturers play a critical role in housing infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and military readiness, while the nimble industry can also respond in times of natural disaster and crisis. Currently, the kitchen cabinet industry supports more than 250,000 American jobs spread out across the nation, and these workers generate a more than $12 billion industry.
“In 2024 alone, cabinet products imports totaled $3.7 billion and many of these items are being moved through illegal transshipment routes. The domestic cabinet industry is on the brink of collapse and we strongly support President Trump back in March for launching the Section 232 investigation to save these critical American manufacturing jobs,” said Jon Toomey, President of CPA. “Alongside our membership, we are asking for a Section 232 tariff to help level the playing field and stop this transshipment cheating as we seek to protect more than 250,000 good-paying, working-class American jobs.”
When it comes to the American cabinet industry, CPA stands firmly behind its industry members so that they have sufficient domestic capacity to meet national demand. CPA stresses that to be truly effective, no exceptions or exemptions should be granted for any kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, or component parts thereof. Additionally, these industry members each stand ready to rapidly ramp up production if imports are fairly regulated.
“Foreign imports primarily from Cambodia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam—that are heavily subsidized by China—are destroying American cabinet jobs,” said Betsy Natz, CEO of the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance (AKCA). “American cabinet manufacturing plants across the U.S. simply cannot compete with foreign countries flooding our market with these unfairly-traded cabinets which have resulted in an estimated $6.5 billion in lost revenue to the domestic timber, lumber, and derivatives (including cabinets) industry over the last five years.”
CPA believes that a strong Section 232 tariff will help revitalize American manufacturing, protect U.S. timber and lumber industries, and restore confidence in domestic investment in these core areas. Earlier this year as part of its recommendations to the Trump administration for trade actions, CPA recommended a minimum 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and no exclusions or exemptions for any cabinetry or parts within current Section 232 investigation on timber, lumber, and derivative products. Without swift and decisive action, the nation risks losing its cabinet manufacturing sector in the very same manner that the country lost its furniture and textiles.
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