How tariffs could make American-made furniture ‘more competitive’

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The trade war between the U.S. and China is intensifying, and it may have some looking for goods made and sourced right here in the United States.

Friday marked the latest escalation in the slugfest, with China retaliating to the latest round of tariffs handed down by the Trump administration.

“We haven’t seen any signs of anybody backing down. The U.S. imposed tariffs on China as high as 145% on Chinese goods. China retaliated with 125% on U.S. imports. It’s hard to see at this early stage who’s going to blink first,” said Brian Ullmann with Ford Financial Group in Fresno.

As most likely know, China is a main producer of many of the goods people buy stateside. Everything from clothes to auto parts and furniture, all likely to get more expensive soon if the tariffs stand in place in the long term.

Now, Lou Rodman, owner of Lou Rodman’s Patio, Barstools, & Amish Emporium in Fresno, specializing in U.S.-made furniture, says he hopes it leads more buyers to them.

“That’s what we hope to see. I mean that’s the goal, is to make it more competitive for American builders,” he said.

His store is likely one people have most likely seen at El Paso Avenue near River Park. Or at the very least, through his advertisements, including the newest TV ad with their neighbor and marketing partner Fashion Furniture, promising “tariff-free furniture.”

“It’s always been that way. It’s not something we just started with this new tariff issue. For over 20 years, almost everything in the store is American-made,” Rodman said.

When customers enter his store, they can see an ocean of wooden custom pieces made mostly by Amish builders from Ohio and Indiana, as well as patio furniture made from companies across the country. He says to be exact, 90% of what they sell is sourced and made stateside.

Though it may cost more, even with tariffs, the hope is that it closes the gap enough to turn more towards American-made.

“With the imported products coming up in price, there’s not going to be as much of a difference between this high-quality custom American-made furniture and something that would come from overseas with a bunch of tariffs,” said Rodman.