As the policy landscape around tariffs continues to evolve, the Home Furnishings Association is closely monitoring developments that may affect our members—particularly regarding Section 232 steel and aluminum duties and potential tariff refunds.
TARIFFS UPDATE – Supreme Court Decision Pending
We are still awaiting a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on the IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) tariffs. While no ruling has been issued yet, industry insiders suggest a decision that could come this week. However, even if the Court rules in favor of refunds, U.S. Customs may take weeks or longer to provide refund procedures or guidance.
ACTION REQUIRED: Enroll in ACE & Activate ACH for Refunds
Importers must be enrolled in the Customs’ ACE Portal and activate the ACH Refund process to receive any potential refunds. Paper checks will no longer be issued.
- Sign up for ACE here: CBP ACE Portal Application
- Once your ACE account is active, you can log in and activate ACH Refund to ensure your company is ready to receive any refund disbursements.
SECTION 232 STEEL & ALUMINUM DUTIES – Unofficial Guidance Available
Customs has not yet issued formal instructions on calculating duties for steel or aluminum. However, unofficial guidance is available. Please review the attached flyer for more details.
The key element to this guidance is that for derivative articles that are NOT wholly made (100%) of steel or aluminum, the Section 232 tariffs are assessed on the steel or aluminum content of the finished article. As importers determine that the steel/aluminum content, subtracting costs associated with fabrication, machining, and labor, to calculate the price of the raw steel or aluminum is not permissible.
This may require additional information to be provided by the manufacturer or seller to the importer of record. However, the requirement to provide documentation supporting valuation is held by the importer of record.
This is not legal advice. HFA encourages members to consult legal counsel to ensure their calculations align with Customs expectations and protect against enforcement risks.
Housing Policy Changes
The strength (or weakness) of the U.S. housing market strongly influences to furniture retail sales volume. Given the persistence of higher mortgage interest rates, among other factors, the U.S. housing market has been depressed in recent years.
Recently, President Trump announced targeted action to address housing availability and mortgage rates. We anticipate that additional details will be provided in the coming weeks. The President has called for a ban on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes, which could increase the available supply for individual homebuyers and thereby stimulate more home sales. There will likely be a legislative component necessary to enforce this ban more widely – the concept of banning large institutional investors has been supported by both Republicans and Democrats in the past.
In addition to the investor ban, President Trump has instructed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to reduce interest rates.
These efforts are part of a broader initiative within the Administration to address affordability concerns in various sectors. With a planned State of the Union address scheduled for February 24th, more details are expected to be available prior to the event.
Stay Connected, Stay Compliant
HFA continues to monitor tariff developments, court rulings, and compliance trends that affect the home furnishings sector. We’ll share actionable updates as new guidance becomes available.
🧾 Be proactive:
- Organize your import and tariff records.
- Enroll in ACE and ACH now.
- Stay alert for communications from CBP and contact HFA with any concerns.
We remain committed to keeping you informed and advocating for clarity, fairness, and retailer-friendly outcomes on all tariff-related issues. For questions or assistance, please contact the HFA.
Stay tuned for further updates—and be sure your business is prepared.
