1851 to 2025 - Still Building Wonders, One Detail at a Time… But First, a Detour | Millwork Trade Policy Update

On this day, May 1st, in 1851, the first modern World’s Fair opened in London. Its centerpiece, the Crystal Palace — a marvel of iron and glass designed by Joseph Paxton and built by Owen Jones — spanned nearly 20 acres and was assembled in record time using revolutionary prefabrication methods. The Great Exhibition stood as a bold symbol of progress, creativity, and global industry.

That was the story I intended to share this month — But in the spirit of responsiveness — and relevance — I’m pausing that message to bring you a timely update on an issue that’s top of mind for many of our members.

Millwork Trade Policy Update & Tariffs: What WMA Members Need to Know

Many of you have reached out with questions about the evolving landscape of tariffs and millwork trade policy updates — and specifically, WMA’s interpretation of these changes. While we are closely monitoring developments, please note that for questions specific to your company’s products, we strongly encourage you to consult legal counsel specializing in international trade.

Trade policy is shifting rapidly. Just this week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that the U.S. is nearing its first new tariff agreement, and President Trump signed an order easing certain auto tariffs by lifting levies on foreign parts used in vehicles assembled in the U.S.

To help you stay informed, we’ve compiled a resource covering:

• Current HTS codes affecting millwork products

• Resource links for tracking ongoing tariff changes

• Additional trade-related developments that could impact your business

Click below for the Tariff Resource Update:

Spotlight: A Push to Revive U.S. Ship Building

Another development with potential long-term implications for our industry involves shipping and logistics.

On April 17, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced final actions targeting Chinese-built vessels and their operators. These measures, part of a broader plan to counter what the administration deems “unfair Chinese trade practices,” will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase 1: A 180-day grace period, followed by fees on Chinese vessel owners/operators beginning at $50 per net ton per U.S. voyage, increasing by $30 each year until capped at $140 in 2028. Fees are limited to five per year and applied at the first U.S. port of entry.

• Non-Chinese operators using Chinese-built vessels will be assessed at lower rates, starting at $18 per net ton or $120 per container, with similar annual increases.

• Phase 2 will focus on U.S. LNG exports.

Congress is also taking legislative steps to strengthen domestic shipbuilding. A bipartisan bill would:

• Impose duties on vessels owned or operated by countries of concern (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea)

• Establish a 25% tax credit for U.S. shipyard investments

• Expand the U.S.-flagged commercial fleet by 250 vessels over the next decade

• This legislation is led by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representatives Trent Kelly (R-MS) and John Garamendi (D-CA).

(Special thanks to the Hardwood Federation for their updates on this initiative.)

We’ll return to the Crystal Palace — and the excitement of our 60th anniversary celebration — in next month’s issue. If you made it this far through the article, thank you, I appreciate your time and attention. WMA is here to help you keep building, innovating, and navigating change — one detail at a time.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, and ideas. Feel free to reach out any time.

Warm regards,

Renee Hornsby, President & CEO