Articles Tagged with ''tariffs''

In the United States, the current steel tariff structure is rooted in Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which imposes duties of up to 25% on imported steel, with some increases reaching 50% in recent policy adjustments. These tariffs were designed to safeguard domestic manufacturing and national security interests, but they primarily target raw steel and certain derivative categories, leaving gaps that global suppliers have learned to navigate.

In a statement following President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman emphasized that while the construction industry remains resilient, affordability pressures and policy uncertainty are weighing on contractors across market segments.

The ruling invalidates the administration’s across-the-board emergency tariffs, including the baseline 10% global duties that had applied to a wide range of imported goods, including those heavily relied on by the PHCP-PVF  supply chain, such as imported components, castings, steel, aluminum, electronics and finished equipment. 

Federal trade policy debates this week have centered on efforts to secure and strengthen domestic supply chains for critical industrial inputs, including metals and processed materials that feed a wide range of manufacturing sectors. While these policies are not targeted specifically at plumbing and PVF products, the ripple effects are already visible in pricing and planning conversations within the industry.

The move follows recent tariff updates in Canada and is aimed at helping partners offset ongoing cost pressures on select heating equipment as the tariff remains in place for key product categories.

According to the American Supply Association’s Monthly Economic Report, forecasting shows GDP growth moderating, oil and freight costs stabilizing, and key construction indicators posting mixed signals heading into mid-2026. Economists contributing to ASA’s reports note that "economic risk remains elevated, but channel fundamentals are stronger than national headlines suggest," pointing to continued resilience in wholesale sales trends and contractor backlogs.

According to the American Institute of Architects, non-residential construction spending is projected to grow by 2.2% in 2025 and 2.6% in 2026. The industrial sector is expected to outperform other non-residential projects, with resilience and modest growth in areas like data centers, public infrastructure, and water treatment.

While overall year-over-year price increases remain modest, rapid gains in early 2025 and looming tariff hikes signal rising pressure for contractors.

Proton surveyed 93 distributors in the industrial, HVAC, electrical, janitorial and building materials sectors.

NetPlus Alliance's CEO believes that continuing to maintain relationships, strategy and education are vital to navigating these uncertain times.