Senator Advocates for Tariffs on Imported Cabinets
US Senator Tommy Tuberville is pushing for immediate tariffs on imported cabinets, arguing that unfair foreign competition is harming American manufacturing and jeopardizing numerous jobs.
This week, a panel held by the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance highlighted what Tuberville, along with other lawmakers and industry executives, described as a serious national crisis. Cabinet imports from countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico, Indonesia, and Thailand are reportedly undercutting US manufacturers by as much as 70% in pricing.
In reaction, domestic producers are encouraging the administration to complete the ongoing Section 232 National Security Survey. They want to curb unfair imports and impose steep tariffs to protect over 250,000 jobs in American cabinet manufacturing, including about 5,000 in Alabama.
Senator Tuberville has been vocal about supporting Alabama’s manufacturing sector, dubbing the situation a “war” against American industry.
“Let me put it this way: it’s war. They are hurting our cabinet business like they have with other domestic sectors. It’s like we’re cutting our own throat,” Tuberville commented.
He pointed to Wellborn Cabinet, a longstanding company based in Alabama, as emblematic of the ongoing crisis.
“The bureaucracy in DC wants to ignore our hard work, but we won’t let them take these businesses down. Thousands of cabinet workers in Alabama and their families need strong enforcement of Section 232,” he stated.
Tuberville and others contend that Chinese manufacturers are evading trade restrictions by rerouting products through third-party countries. This tactic allows cabinets made in China—often using cheap materials and low labor standards—to escape current obligations, flooding the US market with unsustainable prices.
The US cabinet industry boasts annual revenues exceeding $12 billion and is a crucial employer for rural areas nationwide. In Alabama, this sector sustains thousands of jobs in production and supply chains.
Tuberville commended President Trump for his use of tariffs during his first term and encouraged him to adopt similarly bold actions now.
“President Trump gets business and manufacturing; he should definitely keep leveraging tariffs. We need to boost this. Let’s return to the golden age of American manufacturing,” he said.
The Section 232 investigation is nearing a conclusion, with industry leaders and political allies hopeful that swift measures will enhance fair competition and bolster America’s manufacturing strength, safeguarding domestic jobs in the process.
