More industry associations have spoken up about the looming tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Most of these comments came after President Trump delayed the tariffs, but some were posted on February 1st, when the tariffs had been announced as in-effect.
Carl Harris, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder from Wichita, Kan., issued the following statement after President Trump announced a delay of the proposed tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico:
“We commend President Trump for reaching an agreement with Canada and Mexico to delay the proposed tariffs, avoiding additional strain on a housing market already facing affordability challenges. Stability and certainty are essential for American businesses, consumers, and the strength of our economy. We urge all parties to remain committed to productive dialogue to prevent new tariffs on construction materials critical to housing our nation.”
Harris made an earlier announcement on February 1st after President Trump announced an across-the-board tariff of 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods coming into the United States:
“On President Trump’s first day in office, he issued an executive order directing departments and agencies to deliver emergency price relief by pursuing actions to lower the cost of housing and increase housing supply. This move to raise tariffs by 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods will have the opposite effect. More than 70% of the imports of two essential materials that home builders rely on — softwood lumber and gypsum (used for drywall) — come from Canada and Mexico, respectively.
“Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development, and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices. NAHB urges the administration to reconsider this action on tariffs and we will continue to work with policymakers to eliminate barriers that make housing more costly and prevent builders from boosting housing production.”
On behalf of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), NECA Chief Executive Officer David Long comments on the recent tariffs implemented by President Trump:
“On behalf of our 4,000 contractors across America, we commend President Trump on his efforts focusing on the many major challenges facing our nation, including our immigration system and the devastating impact of fentanyl on our communities across America.
“As the Trump administration takes action to address that issue in the form of trade between Canada and Mexico, we urge the administration to consider exclusions for essential equipment and supplies while ensuring a swift resolution that recognizes the deeply interconnected relationship the electrical contracting industry has and how it connects contractors and our customers across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
“NECA will continue working closely with the Trump administration to protect the ability of our contractors to keep delivering power and electricity to communities across America. By doing so, we can maintain our nation’s energy advantage, support American jobs, and ensure a strong and reliable electrical infrastructure for the future.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement on February 1, before the tariffs were delayed:
“Manufacturers understand the need to deal with any sort of crisis that involves illicit drugs crossing our border, and we hope the three countries can come together quickly to confront this challenge.
“At the same time, protecting manufacturing gains that have come from our strong North American partnership is vital. The success of President Trump’s landmark trade agreement, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, has strengthened North American supply chains and bolstered economic power across the region, boosting jobs, wages and investments here in the United States.
“Thanks to this agreement, one-third of critical U.S. manufacturing inputs now come from Canada or Mexico, rather than from competitors like China that often engage in unfair trade practices.
“However, with essential tax reforms left on the cutting room floor by the last Congress and the Biden administration, manufacturers are already facing mounting cost pressures. A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico threatens to upend the very supply chains that have made U.S. manufacturing more competitive globally. The ripple effects will be severe, particularly for small and medium-sized manufacturers that lack the flexibility and capital to rapidly find alternative suppliers or absorb skyrocketing energy costs. These businesses—employing millions of American workers—will face significant disruptions. Ultimately, manufacturers will bear the brunt of these tariffs, undermining our ability to sell our products at a competitive price and putting American jobs at risk.
“We stand ready to work with President Trump to ensure a trade strategy that reinforces American strength—holding bad actors accountable while preserving the gains of the successful USMCA and advancing policies that sustain manufacturing growth here at home.”