Note: The tariff situation is constantly evolving. This page was last updated on 7/24/2026.听
Overview
Tariffs are taxes imposed by governments on imported goods to protect domestic industries or generate revenue. They can be percentage-based or flat fees per unit. These taxes are paid at the point of entry into the United States by the importer of the products and affect the pricing of goods. Steel, aluminum, lumber, and electrical components are just some of the examples of the wide variety of construction materials that can be affected by import taxes and experience price fluctuations.
To help contractors navigate challenges related to possible tariffs, 黑料老司机 is creating resources, educating the construction community, and advocating for contractors on key considerations on the potential impacts as it relates to construction.
黑料老司机 of America is working to provide contractors with the most up-to-date information on tariffs. Make sure to continue to check this page for the latest resources created to help contractors navigate tariffs.
Latest Industry Updates and Resources
*NEW* Understanding the IEEPA Tariff Refund Process and How to File
*NEW* Tariff Refunds Memo for Contractors and Project Owners
*狈贰奥*听What Contractors Need to Know About the Supreme Court Ruling on IEEPA Tariffs
Read the latest analysis of the Supreme Court's decision on IEEPA tariffs听
Read the latest news on tariffs and how 黑料老司机 is advocating for you
Learn More
Member-only resources for navigating tariffs
Tariffs in Effect
*NEW* 听- Additional tariffs of 10-12.5% have been imposed on the top 60 U.S. trade partners, covering 99.4% of U.S. imports. The 10% rate applies to imports from Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada,听Ecuador,听El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan,听Sri Lanka,听Trinidad and Tobago, and the听United Kingdom. Products from the听European Union, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland听are subject to Section 301 duties that are capped net of the applicable Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff, resulting in a combined duty of 10-12.5%, depending on the economy and product.听The remaining investigated economies, including听China, Colombia, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Brazil, Israel, Singapore, and Chile are subject to a 12.5% tariff with some exceptions. These tariffs took effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 24, 2026.
*NEW* - 50% tariffs (starting August 19, 2026). On specific goods imported from Canada, including cement, paint, plywood, fiber cable and more.
听- 50% tariffs听on items made entirely or mostly from the listed metals
- 25% tariffs on
- 15% tariff on听industrial and electrical grid equipment that contains steel, aluminum, and copper
- 10% tariff on products made abroad, but entirely with American steel, aluminum, and copper
- 15% tariff on
- 15% tariff on
- 10% tariff.
- Various derivatives of lumber and timber are set at a 25% tariff.
听- 25% tariff on all imported automobiles and specific automobile parts.听
Tariffs No Longer in Effect Due To Supreme Court Decision
- 听Ranging from 15 - 40%. Reciprocal tariffs on
- If a country is not subject to reciprocal tariffs, they are still subject to the 10% universal tariff (except Canada and Mexico).
- 30%
- President Donald Trump听on imports from China that added an additional 10% tax on all goods coming into the United States. On March 4, 2025, he increased those tariffs by . These tariffs combine with the universal tariffs for a total of 30% import tax on all Chinese goods, in addition to any other tariffs that might be in place for specific products.听China and the US are currently negotiating terms for a trade deal, during which the initially set high tariff rate of 125% has been .
- 25% tariff on goods that are not USMCA compliant.
- These tariffs听affect about 50% of all imports from Mexico. The baseline and reciprocal tariffs mentioned above do not currently affect Mexico.
- 35% tariff on all non-USMCA compliant products. Energy and critical minerals are at a lower 10% rate.听
- These tariffs, which currently affect about 40% of all imports from Canada, are currently in effect.听The baseline and reciprocal tariffs mentioned above do not currently affect Canada.
Additional Country Specific Tariffs -听President Trump has imposed tariffs on multiple countries in addition to already existing tariffs.
- 听鈥 40%
- 听鈥 25%
Purchasers of Venezuelan Petroleum听- President Trump signed an that allows the Secretary of State to investigate countries which purchase petroleum from Venezuela and impose a 25% tax on them. The purchase could be directly or through a third party. Currently, China and the US are the two major purchasers of Venezuelan oil. This executive order is effective starting April 2, 2025. However, the executive order is worded in such a way that these tariffs are discretionary based on the Secretary of State's judgement and decision. No current tariffs based on this executive order.
Trade Deals
The following countries have specific trade deals that have various exemptions or rates separate from the ones above.
- 听鈥撎15%
- 听鈥撎15%
- 鈥撎10%
- 鈥撎19%
- 鈥撎19%
- 鈥撎20%; 40% on transshipment
- - 15%
Tariff Stacking
Initially, all the tariffs were worded in such a manner that the rates would stack on top of each other. For example, Steel (at a tariff rate of 25%) from Canada (at a tariff rate of 25%) would combine to be subject to a 50% total tariff rate. The Trump Administration has that the following tariffs do not stack with each other, but still do stack with the rest of the tariff actions.
- Mexico
- Canada
- Steel
- Aluminum
- Autos and Auto Parts
Potential Future Tariffs
The Trump Administration has numerous ongoing investigations into potential tariffs on the products and materials below.听These investigations can take nearly a year from beginning to imposition of tariffs, but are also not guaranteed that there will be tariffs.听
- 听- Includes downstream products that cover "all goods that incorporate processed critical minerals as inputs".
- 听
- 听- Semiconductors and their downstream products. Downstream products would involve any products that contain semiconductors. There is currently no specific timeline of when the investigation's report will be released and whether tariffs will actually be imposed.
Impact of Tariffs
Tariffs have long been a critical tool in U.S. trade policy, affecting the construction industry in both direct and indirect ways. These measures are aimed at addressing trade imbalances and incentivizing domestic production, but they also carry risks of escalating costs, retaliatory trade measures, and further complicating global supply chains. For construction contractors, such policies could lead to stockpiling of materials, reconsideration of contracts, and pricing and scheduling uncertainty.
To have a better sense of what might be affected in a specific market with potential tariffs, contractors need to be aware of what products are imported and how much. A key consideration for contractors is that domestic equivalents to imported materials 听due to tariffs and thus cause the price of domestic materials to fluctuate as well.
- (U.S. International Trade Administration)
- 听(Government of Canada)
- 听(Embassy of Mexico)
- 听(US Geological Survey)
Tools and Resources
Contracts:听 听
Tariffs are likely to further contribute to volatility in the construction materials market. ConsensusDocs, has compiled resources to address price escalation. The best approach is to include price escalation provision, such as the听听in your construction agreement at contract signing.
Federal and Federal-Aid Contracts:听黑料老司机 of America's Tariff Memo
黑料老司机 developed a听Tariff Memo听outlining key considerations and potential impacts of the administration鈥檚 trade policies on the construction industry. It covers general circumstances that construction contractors may face in connection with an increase in tariffs and how contractors can work through them.
Import Trade Data:听
The USITC DataWeb provides public access to the official U.S. import and export statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce in a user-friendly web interface. Using the DataWeb querying tool, users can build custom queries and access these data in a spreadsheet or a web-based format to search for specific materials and how they might impact your business.
Podcast:听
As the construction industry contends with new and evolving tariffs, contractors across the country are facing rising material costs, shifting timelines, and uncertainty in supplier communications. In the latest episode of听ConstructorCast, 黑料老司机 of America sits down with two of the industry鈥檚 top supply chain leaders to unpack how these challenges are unfolding in real time, and what construction firms can do to adapt.
Find 黑料老司机's ConstructorCast wherever you listen to podcasts.听
Webinar:听Taming Tariff Troubles: Risk Mitigation Strategies for Managing Tariff Impacts
Discounted rate available for members. Input your name and email associated with your 黑料老司机 of America account to retrieve the recording after registration.
Learn cost estimating tips and logistical considerations resulting from tariffs 鈥 and the threat of tariffs. Our expert panel will provide the top project controls to mitigate the risk of tariffs on construction costs and scheduling and how to use a risk register to catalog these risks. By attending this webinar, you will learn how to baseline your pricing assumptions and document the impact of tariffs for change orders and potential claims.
By attending this webinar, you will learn procurement strategies to minimize the impact of tariffs. Gain insights into the submittal process that may allow you to adjust your project plans in light of supply chain disruption. You will also learn how to devise creative solutions to avoid claims, contemporaneously document potential claims properly, and mitigate the impact of tariffs.
Webinar:听
Discounted rate available for members. Input your name and email associated with your 黑料老司机 of America account to retrieve the recording after registration.
The Trump Administration has issued three executive orders that will impose new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China. Additional tariffs could be coming in the coming weeks; just the threat of tariffs can significantly impact costs and supply-chain availability. Donald Trump wrote the book on the "Art of the Deal." This webinar helps to write your playbook on how to equip your company with tactics to mitigate the cost and disruption impacts cause by new tariffs.
Webinar:听
Free for members. Input your name and email associated with your 黑料老司机 of America account to retrieve the recording.
- Review the nuts and bolts of tariff regulations that impact direct federal and federal-assisted contractors;
- Reference key federal regulations and contract clauses;
- Discuss risks to subcontractors and supply chain;
- Discuss what contractors should be asking their owners;听
Relevant Trade Actions:听
- Executive Order on Canada: 听(The White House)
- Executive Order on Mexico:听听(The White House)
- Executive Order on China: 听(The White House)
- FAQ:听President Trump鈥檚 Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China听(The White House)
- Proclamation: Adjusting Steel Imports听(The White House)
- Proclamation: Adjusting Aluminum Imports听(The White House)
- Fact Sheet: Steel and Aluminum听(The White House)
- Memorandum: Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs听(The White House)
- Fact Sheet: 鈥淔air and Reciprocal Plan鈥 on Trade听(The White House)
- Executive Order on Copper Import Investigation -听听(The White House)
- Executive Order on Lumber Import Investigation -听听(The White House)
- Fact Sheet: "President Donald J. Trump Proceeds with Tariffs on Imports from Canada and Mexico"听(The White House)
- Executive Order:听听(The White House)
- Executive Order:听听(The White House)
- Fact Sheet:听听(The White House)
- Fact Sheet:听听(The White House)
听