Trade war! What is it good for? Whether absolutely nothing or something else, construction will start to find out March 23 when a 25% tariff on imported steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum proposed on March 8 by President Donald Trump takes effect.
With tariffs of 25% on foreign steel imports and 10% on aluminum signed by President Donald Trump on March 8, U.S. construction estimators and buyers have a bit more clarity what to expect when buying materials for future projects.
When President Trump said on March 1 that he would impose tariffs of 25% on foreign steel and 10% on aluminum, it immediately put construction estimators and executives, and the suppliers they rely on, into a holding pattern.
Based on recent fire test results, mass timber groups have adjusted product certification standards to require the use of cross-laminated timber with structural adhesives tested to demonstrate better fire performance.
If structural engineers have their way, building codes will take a historic leap forward in the next few years to allow higher-strength 80-ksi reinforcing steel, instead of 60 ksi, in reinforced concrete shear walls.
The long trade battle over the pricing of Canadian softwood-lumber shipments to the U.S. has become more intense, after a U.S. trade panel’s Dec. 7 ruling that the exports have hurt domestic producers.
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