Tariffs, Trade Wars and the True Cost of Furniture

Headlines about tariff investigations and trade disputes are making waves across the furniture industry. For buyers, retailers and even homeowners, the uncertainty is real: shifting costs, disrupted supply chains and questions of quality are now part of every purchase decision.

But the truth is, tariffs only expose what has always been there. Cheap imports often come with hidden costs — costs that are less visible on a price tag but very real in practice.

The Hidden Costs of “Cheap” Furniture

Carbon Footprint: Mass-produced, bulky pieces shipped halfway around the globe carry a heavy environmental toll.
Durability Issues: When low-cost materials and quick assembly drive production, the result is furniture that fades, warps, or breaks long before it should.
Supply Instability: Global disruptions — whether tariffs, shipping delays, or labor disputes — can suddenly put once-reliable orders out of reach.

An Alternative: Design That Lasts
The Farm Mechanic was built around a different philosophy. Every piece in the collection is made from a single material, assembled without hardware or tools and designed to endure. By working outside of fragile global supply chains, our furniture offers something increasingly rare: stability, transparency and timeless value.

Tariffs may come and go. Trade policies may shift with the news cycle. But when it comes to creating spaces that invite people to gather, connect and make memories, investing in well-crafted, lasting design is the choice that transcends politics.

At The Farm Mechanic, we believe the true cost of furniture should be measured not in tariffs or shortcuts, but in how well it supports lives lived outdoors — today and for years to come.