Seattle furniture stores react to 104% tariff on Chinese imports

UPDATE: President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly backed down on his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, but raised the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%. Click here for the latest story.

SEATTLE - Tariffs on Chinese imports will skyrocket 104%, starting 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Pacific Northwest. It's a big hit to Seattle businesses that rely on those shipments for everything from furniture to shoes and clothes.

The white house confirmed an extra 50% on goods from China as part of a reciprocal tariffs package.

Furniture makes up a massive portion of imported Chinese goods through the Port of Seattle. Store owners told KOMO News that while much of the added cost from tariffs ultimately goes to the customer, the tariffs create a unique set of challenges for many businesses.

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Blake Garfield helps manage the Bedrooms and More showroom, a Wallingford business started by his father decades ago. He explained the family has learned in order to stay competitive through the years, they have to be able to adapt.

“The changes in prices that are happening because of tariffs are something that are pretty scary for us,” Garfield stated. He notes they order bedding from China, hit by the trump administration with 104-percent tariffs.

Garfield said he's learned from past experience that seeking new suppliers can be extra taxing for small businesses like this one with 36 employees.

“Trying to figure out how to diversify when there simply aren’t people who make that sort of thing domestically becomes challenging, and it’s a guessing game,” Garfield added.

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The most recent available Northwest Seaport data from 2023 shows China is the area's top trading partner, with the main imports being furniture, other machinery, then toys and games.

In Ballard, consignment shop owner Victor Ghioni said he expects more customers may turn to stores like his for more affordable options instead of paying steeper prices due to tariffs.

“We get a lot of our products from people that import and are getting rid of stuff or turning over their inventory,” Ghioni said. “We have the luxury of not increasing any prices because we’re consignment.”

Economic Commentator Thomas Fellows said his main concern for Seattle would be if China imposes retaliatory tariffs, considering Washington’s major agriculture and tech industries. According to the NWSA data, the area’s main exports to China are hay, wood and paper products, then soybeans and dairy.