NAHB Urges Building Material Exemption from Planned Tariffs Against Canada and Mexico
With President Trump announcing that he plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods coming into the United States, NAHB is urging the president to exempt building materials from the proposed tariffs because of their harmful effect on housing affordability.
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.
In a letter to the president, NAHB noted that on his first day in office Trump issued an executive order that seeks to increase housing supply and affordability.
“Bringing down the cost of housing will require a coordinated effort to remove obstacles to construction, be they regulatory, labor or supply-chain related,” NAHB’s letter said. “NAHB stands ready to work with you to accomplish these goals. However, we have serious concerns that proposed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico will have the opposite effect, by slowing down the domestic residential construction industry.”
Latest from NAHBNow
IBS
Aug 26, 2026
3 Ways to Maximize Your 2027 IBS Registration
Registration for the 2027 International Builders’ Show (IBS), taking place Feb. 2-4 in Las Vegas, opens Sept. 1. Make the most of your IBS experience by adding education courses, special events and more when you register.
Economics | Material Costs
Aug 26, 2026
Smaller Builders Report Higher Material Costs
Building material costs increased by 6.7% over the past 12 months, according to results from the survey for the July 2026 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
Latest Economic News
Economics
Aug 26, 2026
PCE Inflation Remains Sticky
The latest report shows the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge remains sticky in July, complicating the Fed’s path to its long-term 2% target. Meanwhile, consumer spending remains resilient but is showing signs of slowing, with real consumer spending unchanged in July. Households are pulling back on spending amid persistent inflation.
Economics
Aug 26, 2026
Multifamily Missing Middle Falls Back
Multifamily missing middle construction declined during the second quarter of 2026.
Economics
Aug 25, 2026
Economic Uncertainty, Affordability Challenges Weigh on New Home Sales
Elevated borrowing costs, rising inflation and broad economic uncertainty continue to curb buyer demand and hold back new home sales.