Senator Tuberville Highlights Unfair Trade Impacting Alabama
Recently, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville expressed serious concerns regarding unfair trade practices that are significantly affecting thousands of residents in Alabama. He stated, “This is a war. Like other domestic industries, China is weakening our cabinet business and essentially cutting our throats.”
Senator Tuberville, who champions manufacturing employment in Alabama, remarked that “President Trump understands business and manufacturing, which is why he addresses unfair trade.” It’s encouraging to see leaders like him, along with congressional representatives and industry figures, advocate for the domestic manufacturing industry that supports local jobs.
Wellborn Cabinet Co., based in Ashland, Alabama, is the town’s largest employer, with a workforce of 1,400 in a community of roughly 1,984. The idea of potential factory closures is daunting, as it would devastate the economic foundation of Ashland.
The company was founded 60 years ago by my father, Paul Wellborn, and his brother, who dedicated themselves to building a strong business and a solid team, producing high-quality American-made cabinets.
Our employees are our cornerstone, allowing us to provide substantial benefits, which include excellent on-site healthcare, daycare, and subsidized meals. However, in conversations with our hardworking team, there’s a palpable anxiety about the influx of foreign cabinet imports that threaten our plants’ existence.
In April 2020, both the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission identified significant issues for the U.S. kitchen cabinet industry due to a surge in Chinese subsidies. Consequently, strong tariffs on Chinese goods were enacted to protect domestic producers.
Initially, this seemed effective. Yet, the Chinese Communist Party has found ways around these tariffs by funnelling cabinet products through other countries. As Senator Tuberville pointed out, “China has been tricking the system by moving cabinets into this country through countries like Cambodia, Mexico, Vietnam, and Indonesia.”
These nations benefit from substantial government subsidies and often engage in illegal practices to evade U.S. tariffs.
As a result, there have been thousands of job losses in the cabinet industry across states like Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Kansas, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Alabama in recent months.
Wellborn has seen a drastic reduction in output, going from producing 16,000 cabinets per week to only 10,000, and our workforce has shrunk from 2,200 to under 1,400.
In response, President Trump initiated an investigation in March 2025 regarding related products, including wood and cabinetry, aiming to stop unfair trade practices, notably the illegal import of foreign-made cabinets into the U.S. market.
As Senator Tuberville noted, “President Trump is strategically using tariffs.” He, along with Senator Britt and other congressional leaders, is urging the president to implement a robust 100% tariff on cabinets to protect over 5,000 jobs in Alabama. They stress that there should be no exemptions for countries attempting to take advantage of the system.
The American cabinet industry has the necessary capacity to produce locally. We just need a fair playing field. Alabamians can compete effectively with anyone globally, but that can only happen in equal circumstances.
Senator Tuberville added, “As thousands of Alabama cabinet workers and their families seek strong Section 232 tariff enforcement, the domestic cabinet industry supports 250,000 jobs nationwide, with 5,000 in Alabama alone.” It’s crucial for citizens to contact their legislators, rallying for protection of these jobs and initiating a promising future for American cabinet manufacturing.
We have the potential to strengthen Alabama by urging President Trump to safeguard the U.S. cabinet industry with a 100% tariff on all foreign imports.
