Impact of Trump-Era Tariffs on Room Divider Privacy Screens

The furniture and home furnishings sector has seen clear price pressures as trade tariffs went into effect. Room divider privacy screens (classified as furniture under HS heading 9403) were swept up in these duties. For example, Washington Post analysis shows U.S. furniture and bedding prices jumped about 0.8% in April 2025 – roughly seven times the overall inflation rate – as the new tariffs began to bite. In practical terms, importers of screens and partitions from China (traditionally the largest furniture supplier) faced dramatically higher costs. One industry report noted that even after some tariff pauses, U.S. duty on Chinese-made home furnishings remained on the order of ~55%. The net result is that manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of room dividers saw their landed costs rise sharply.

Trump Tariff Effects on Home Decor Products

Trump-era tariffs on China and other countries were broad-based, hitting many home decor items. Beginning in 2018 the U.S. imposed additional 10–25% duties on a wide range of Chinese goods, including Room Divider Privacy Screens. These measures “squeezed U.S. importers’ margins or forced price hikes” on Chinese-made furniture, and triggered a supply shift. In fact, China’s share of U.S. furniture imports fell from about 57% pre-tariff to roughly 29% by 2023, as companies moved sourcing to Vietnam, Mexico, India and other regions. (Vietnam’s furniture exports to the U.S. nearly doubled from 2018 to 2020.) This globalization trend is direct evidence of tariff impact: U.S. firms rapidly re-sourced to avoid duties on Chinese imports.

By early 2025, President Trump announced even steeper “reciprocal” tariffs: a blanket 10% on all imports plus an extra 125% on China, totaling ~145% on Chinese goods. Although a later 90-day truce temporarily brought China’s rate down to 30%, the new policy environment has kept pressure high. Major retailers and brands across the home furnishings industry immediately signaled future price hikes. For example, Business of Home reports that many design-oriented furniture brands announced surcharge plans, and designers received a flood of vendor notices about upcoming price changes and delays. One interior designer said their inbox was “inundated” with news of tariff-driven cost increases – even as some vendors promised to absorb increases temporarily.

Room Divider Privacy Screen Tariffs and Import Costs USA

Under U.S. trade law, room dividers and/or privacy screens aree treated as “articles of furniture” (HTSUS 9403), so they fell squarely under the furniture tariff regime. That means any incremental duty on imported furniture applied to privacy screens as well. Importers of privacy panels from China or other tariffed countries saw their per-unit costs rise by the duty rate. For example, a screen that had 2% duty might suddenly incur 25% or more, effectively multiplying its cost. Many importers responded by negotiating with suppliers, switching factories, or absorbing part of the duty themselves. Industry surveys found that roughly 65% of mid-market furniture and home-goods companies planned to negotiate with existing suppliers for better pricing to offset new tariffs. Nevertheless, 45% of these companies expected to eventually pass increased costs on to customers.

Key points on import costs and pricing:

• Tariffs raised landed import costs for screens by double-digit percentages, squeezing margins.
• Some wholesalers raised wholesale prices immediately; others absorbed costs hoping to maintain volume.
• Many retailers and designers began adding surcharges to quotes. One expert advised interior designers to add roughly 25% to each item’s cost estimate to cover tariff-driven hikes.
• In the short run, this has translated to noticeably higher price tags for end consumers of privacy screens. (Washington Post data on sofas and bedding – which also come under home décor – indicate comparable price jumps.)
• Because tariffs affected raw materials too, even U.S. domestic manufacturers faced higher input costs, which they often passed into higher wholesale prices.

Supply Chain Shifts and Room Divider Market Trends

The trade war accelerated a major re-shuffling of the furniture supply chain. U.S. importers have actively diversified away from China toward lower-tariff sources. Vietnam’s furniture exports to the U.S. soared in recent years, rivaling China. Home décor makers also expanded production in India, Indonesia, and Mexico to hedge against U.S. tariffs (and potential retaliation). For example, one supply-chain analyst noted that China and Vietnam have been “nearly neck-and-neck” in U.S. furniture imports by 2023. Within the room divider segment, factory sourcing has similarly shifted: many Hong Kong and Chinese companies have opened or expanded plants in ASEAN countries.

Meanwhile, U.S. wholesalers and retailers began adjusting lead times and inventory strategies. Trade groups warned of a sharp drop in imports later in 2025. The National Retail Federation projected U.S. imports would fall “dramatically” in the second half of 2025, perhaps 15% lower than planned. That’s because many merchants front-loaded orders ahead of tariff hikes, then pulled back once duties took effect. As a result, analysts expect a temporary tightness: inventories will carry retailers until they can source under the new rules.

In terms of market trends, the room divider category is reacting like the rest of home furnishings:

• Diversifying suppliers: Manufacturers of partition screens increasingly import from Vietnam, India, or produce domestically to avoid high duties.
• Focus on high-value features: With costs up, some sellers emphasize premium or multi-functional designs (e.g. built-in organizers or upscale materials) to justify higher prices.
• Interest in sustainability and local design: Anecdotally, interior buyers are showing more interest in locally-made or eco-friendly screens, partly as tariffs make imports pricier.
• Category consolidation: Smaller imports may drop out as costs rise; major brands that can hedge tariffs (or own production abroad) may gain share.

Overall, key reports characterize Trump-era tariffs as a significant driver of room divider market dynamics. (One market research briefing specifically notes the “impact of Trump’s tariff war on the room divider partition panel market”.)

Retailers, E-Commerce, and Inventory Strategies

Retailers – both brick-and-mortar and online – have scrambled to adapt pricing and inventory. E-commerce platforms (Amazon, Wayfair, etc.) that sell room dividers had to update product pricing globally and notify customers of pending surcharges. For example, Amazon reportedly canceled several Chinese-origin furniture orders (like room dividers) in Spring 2025 to avoid looming tariffs. Traditional retailers such as Home Depot or smaller furniture chains told suppliers to absorb costs, leading to tense discussions – even a public rebuke from Chinese officials to Walmart when it pressed vendors on prices.

Many retailers pre-stocked inventory before tariff deadlines. NR&F (National Retail Federation) data indicate firms “have been bringing merchandise into the country for months in attempts to mitigate rising tariffs,” then plan to pause further imports and sell through built-up stock. In practice, store shelves have mostly reflected pre-tariff pricing for now. But going forward, limited replenishments mean some popular styles of screens could become scarce or more expensive. Smaller retailers – with less capital to stockpile – especially risk inventory gaps.

Retail selling strategies have also changed. Furniture Today reports many executives working closely with dealers and buyers on a “10-day strategy,” updating prices frequently instead of using long-term forecasts. Violino USA’s president said he is “working with our customers one by one” and maintaining “transparency, frequent communication and support” to navigate the uncertainty. In short, retailers are planning on the fly: negotiating prices with suppliers, building contingency clauses into contracts, and in some cases explicitly notifying customers that quotes hold only for short periods.

Impacts on inventory:

• Retailers with large buying power (e.g. big-box stores, Amazon) managed some buffer by importing early; smaller shops may run lean and face dropouts.
• Clearance sales have appeared in some outlets as sellers move old stock ahead of refilling prices (for example, some stores promoted “final inventory clearance” on select screens before new tariffs, per retailer announcements).
• After the 90-day tariff pause, many stores are pausing new orders to assess final rates.

Implications for Stakeholders

• Consumers: End buyers of room dividers and/or privacy screens are seeing higher price tags. With home furnishings inflation accelerating, cost-conscious shoppers may delay purchases or downsize specs. However, some consumers also shift preference to domestic or sustainable products, or repurpose existing items, as reports indicate growing interest in local craftsmanship and DIY solutions. For homeowners using screens for décor or space division, the trend is toward investing in more versatile, long-lasting pieces when possible.
• Wholesalers/Importers: These players bore the upfront tariff bill. They have had to raise wholesale prices or accept slimmer margins. Many have been actively moving production or forging new overseas partnerships in tariff-favored countries. Those who import fewer items (niche or custom makers) might trim their catalogs, while high-volume importers lean harder on scale and global sourcing.
• Retailers (stores & online): Margins have been squeezed. Retailers with healthy inventories may weather the storm in the short term; but nearly all have signaled that product prices will rise. Some mid-sized furniture chains already publicly warned of “tariff inflation” and told customers to expect up to 20–25% price increases on some items. The retail outlook is mixed: sales volumes could dip if consumers balk at higher costs, but firms with diversified sourcing or domestic production can capture market share.
• Interior Designers: Design professionals report anxiety but also adaptability. As Architectural Digest noted, designers are “grappling with rising costs, unpredictable supply chains, and shrinking profit margins” due to tariffs. Many are sourcing more domestic or vintage alternatives, scheduling projects farther out, and explicitly building price buffers into client quotes. Some firms have instituted fast-decision policies (e.g. locking in quotes for only 48 hours) to hedge against rapidly changing supplier prices.

In summary, Trump-era tariffs have had a noticeable impact on the room divider privacy screen market in the U.S. They increased import costs and retail prices, spurred supply-chain realignment, and forced stakeholders at every level to adjust. Consumers, wholesalers, and interior professionals alike are recalibrating expectations and strategies for this important segment of home decor. Going forward, the market is likely to emphasize diversified sourcing and resilient design solutions, tracking broader room divider market trends shaped by global trade policies.

Sources: Government and industry trade reports, mainstream business press and home design publications.