If you are planning a kitchen remodel in Chicago this year, someone has probably told you that imported cabinets now come with a tariff. That’s true, but the details get garbled fast, and plenty of articles online are out of date. Here is what the published proclamations say, and where we can’t give you a straight answer.
What the tariff covers
In September 2025 the White House issued Proclamation 10976 under Section 232, covering imported timber, lumber and wood products. Finished kitchen cabinets, vanities and their parts are on that list. Since October 14, 2025, they have carried a 25 percent duty on top of the normal rate.
What happens on January 1, 2027
The first version of the order raised the rate to 50 percent on January 1, 2026. A second proclamation, signed December 31, 2025 (Proclamation 11000), moved that date back a year. The text says the rate “shall increase to 50 percent” on January 1, 2027, except for countries that reach an agreement with the United States.
So for now the rate is 25 percent. If you read somewhere that 50 percent started in early 2026, that source is behind.
Where Italian kitchens fit
For goods from the European Union, the proclamation sets a ceiling: the new tariff should not push the total duty, once the normal rate is added, above 15 percent. Italy is an EU member, so Italian kitchen cabinets fall under that ceiling.
Trade publications in September 2026 report that the EU cap is not scheduled to change on January 1, 2027. We would treat that as a report, not a promise. Proclamations can be amended, and we will update this post if the rules move.
What we can’t tell you
We can’t tell you how much a tariff will add to your kitchen. The final number depends on the brand, how the products are classified at customs, their declared value and freight. Anyone quoting a flat percentage increase for every kitchen is guessing. Nothing here is legal or financial advice. For questions about duties on a specific order, talk to a customs broker.
Questions to ask before you order
- Does the quote already include duties, or can they change after you sign?
- How long is the quote valid, and what happens if the rules change before delivery?
- What are the lead times? Production and shipping set the real calendar.
- Which parts of the kitchen are imported, and which are sourced locally?
A written quote with a date on it answers most of these. That applies to modern European kitchens, custom kitchen cabinets and any other project with a long lead time.
What this means for your kitchen
Italian kitchen cabinets are still a sound choice. Frameless construction, precise hardware and a wide range of finishes are the reasons people buy them, and none of that has changed. What has changed is that timing and written pricing matter more than before. We design with 3D software during your free consultation, so you see the layout before any numbers are final.
Planning a kitchen and wondering how timing and pricing fit together? Book a consultation at our Lakeview showroom, or Get a Quote to get started.
Source: Proclamation 10976, Sept. 29, 2025: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-10-06/pdf/2025-19482.pdf
Source: Proclamation 11000, Dec. 31, 2025: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2026/01/09/2026-00327.html