Photo: Woodworking
CKCA Vice-President Luke Elias says U.S. tariff delay provides short-term relief for Canadian manufacturers.
Amidst extraordinary and continuing pressures facing cabinet manufacturers across Canada, the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association says it to advocate on manufacturers’ behalf.
In a release, CKCA notes the American administration’s New Year’s Eve proclamation to delay, for a year, the increase to the tariffs on kitchen cabinets, vanities and upholstered furniture. The tariff increase from 25 per cent to 50 per cent on Canadian manufacturing products was to take effect on Jan. 1.
Short-term relief
Luke Elias, CKCA vice-president and president of Muskoka Cabinet Company, told Woodworking that the “one-year delay in increased U.S. tariffs provides short-term relief for Canadian kitchen cabinet manufacturers, but it does not resolve the underlying issue. A 25 per cent tariff remains highly disruptive and was imposed with very little notice, causing real harm across the industry.”
He adds: “Canadian manufacturers need fair, predictable trade conditions to remain competitive and continue investing in jobs and capacity.
“Moving forward, the CKCA will remain diligent in advocating for strong Buy Canadian procurement policies, particularly where government funding, incentives, or housing programs are involved. In addition, the CKCA will continue advocating for measures that address below fair market value imports into Canada as part of a broader, fair North American trade framework.
In a news release, CKCA says: “The bottom line for CKCA members is that since the 25 per cent tariffs were imposed on kitchen cabinets in the fall, they have driven up the costs and resulted in employment layoffs and lost sales for Canadian exporters, put strains on the Canadian-American manufacturing supply chains, and they have increased the costs for Americans buying new houses or renovating their kitchens.”
CKCA says it is “committed to sustained advocacy with persistence, clarity, and strategic pressure where it matters most, until there is meaningful course correction. We believe that with a concerted push from CKCA and our members, we can help shape better outcomes even in difficult external conditions. That is driving us to demand attention for our industry with the federal government’s housing program, the Buy Canadian initiatives, as well as the U.S. trade issues.
WMCO updates members
The Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario has also issued an update to its members stating that “unless another proclamation is issued, the higher tariff rates will now take effect January 1, 2027.
“What this means for manufacturers is that while this update does not remove tariffs, it does provide:
• Short-term cost certainty for 2026
• Additional time for planning, pricing, and market strategy
• Breathing room for manufacturers already adjusting to tariff pressures
“WMCO will continue to closely monitor developments and advocate on behalf of Ontario’s advanced wood manufacturing sector.”
