US President Donald Trump has introduced a new proposal to impose tariffs on furniture imports. He said that the investigation will be completed in the coming 50 days and after that it will be decided how much a fee should be imposed on the furniture coming in America from other countries. Trump believes that this step will strengthen the American industry and bring production inside the country.

Why does Trump want to put tariff on furniture imports?

Trump in his statement especially mentioned states like North Carolina, South Carolina and Michigan. These states were once large centers in the furniture industry, but due to cheap labor and low production costs, most companies took their work abroad. Trump says that the new tariffs will be forced to produce companies again in America.

Trump’s announcement impact on the stock market

The impact of this announcement was directly seen in the US stock market. Shares of major furniture and home goods companies such as Wayfair, RH and Williams-Sonoma declined. While American manufacturing company like La-Z-Boy, which makes most of the furniture in America, increased its shares. Analysts believe that if the tariff is applied, foreign products will become expensive and domestic companies will get benefit.

Trump administration is investigating

The US Department of Commerce is currently investigating. This investigation is being done under Section 232 of the Trade Extension Act, 1962. This law allows the US government to impose tariffs on such products which are considered necessary for national security. However, it is not clear whether this tariff will be in addition to the current duty or will replace it.

Furniture industry used to provide employment to 12 lakh people in US

There was a time when America’s furniture industry was very strong. In 1979, about 1.2 million people used to work in this industry. By 2023, this number has come down to just 3.4 lakhs. The main reason for this decline is considered cheap production abroad and large -scale outsourcing. Trump says that the new tariff will not only promote the American industry but will also return employment for thousands of people.

Will Trump’s announcement be affected by India?

The proposal to impose tariffs on furniture imports is part of the widespread strategy of the Trump administration. The government is already considering putting tariffs on other products as well. These include copper, semiconductor and pharmaceuticals. The goal of this strategy is to promote domestic production, reduce foreign dependence and reinforce industry and employment in the US. Let us know that this announcement of Trump is also going to affect India because India also exports a large amount of furniture in America.

Us visa policy: Optional Practical Training (Opt) is an important part of the American immigration system. It helps foreign students studying on F-1 visa to achieve work experience for 1 to 3 years after completing the course. This is considered especially important for students studying in Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). This program acts like a bridge for the H-1B work visa.

Standard OPT is 12 months. In this, the time increases for 24 months with the help of Stem Opt Extension. However, a bill presented in the US Congress in early 2025 has demanded to completely abolish the OPT program. This proposal has been introduced under the security of the US labor market and anti -immigrant strategies. If this bill is passed, it can destroy the career possibilities of millions of foreign students.
There will be a problem due to lack of opt program
Due to the elimination of OPT program completely, people studying may have to face many problems. The most impact of this can be seen on Indian students. Due to its end, there will be many problems, which are the following.

• Access to H-1B visa will be limited.
• The chance to get the work experience will end.
• The career path in the US will stop for Stem students.
• The possibility of repaying the loan for the students will be negligible.

Eastern Chothani, a major immigration on the case, says that if the bill is passed, students may have to leave America immediately.

Impact on Indian students
According to the Open Doors 2024 report, 331,602 Indian students are studying in the US in 2023-24, of which around 97,556 are part of the OPT program. This shows that this law will affect students from countries like India the most, as they enroll in stem areas on a large scale. American salary will not be available without OPT, which will make it difficult to repay the student loan. There will be uncertainty in future education plans. People associated with science and technology will migrate from America. Multinational companies may face a shortage of skilled talent.

Response of educational institutions and students
Major American institutions such as Cornell, Colombia, Yale etc. have informally advised their foreign students not to go home during the holidays. Many students have canceled the summer journey as they are afraid of not getting admission in America again. Some students are applying early for H-1B visa lottery. Many students are now looking for opportunities in countries like Canada, UK, Australia.

What is the option for students?
If Opt is finished, students should start the process of obtaining H-1B visa as soon as possible. Post-study work visa facility should be started in the UK. In Canada, the PR process and the student support system can be a better option. Large companies can transfer students to other countries through their global networks.

Serious questions on the future of Indian stem students
This initiative to eliminate the OPT program raises serious questions on the future of thousands of international students, especially Indian Stem students, who came to study in America. This step will not only affect the availability of skilled talent for the US, but can also reduce its reputation in the field of higher education.