The Metal Construction Association (MCA), along with eight other industry associations, has sent a letter asking President Donald Trump to exempt building materials from tariffs. The letter states tariffs would undermine the administration’s goal of increasing affordable housing.
The letter states that 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods would impact efforts to build affordable housing because approximately one-quarter of building materials used in the United States come from Mexico or Canada.
The MCA stated it is concerned about how the tariffs affect pricing and impact the metal construction industry’s ability to compete against alternative materials.
In part, the letter states:
“Our sector relies heavily on a diverse and cost-efficient supply chain for a wide array of building materials. While home building is inherently domestic, builders do rely on access to components produced abroad to help meet demand, with Canada and Mexico representing nearly 25 percent of building materials imports. Imposing tariffs on these imports will undoubtedly push already high material costs higher. Since January 2021, inputs to residential construction saw price increases of just over 30 percent. These higher costs ultimately are passed on to home buyers and renters in the form of increased housing prices.”
On March 6, President Trump deferred tariffs on goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a free trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, CTVNews reported.
*This article was updated 3/7/2025.