50% Canada Tariffs Loom, Echoing Through U.S. Building Supply Chains

The U.S. is poised to impose 50% tariffs on many Canadian goods, including building materials like plywood, with a Aug. 19 effective date if no deal is reached. Lumberyards and contractors in upstate New York warn that a 50% cost hike could be passed to customers, raising project prices and straining the construction supply chain where roughly a third of materials come from Canada. The tariffs trigger a domino effect—availability and costs rise for cement, steel, and related products—while Canada and U.S. officials seek a deal to avert a broader chill in cross-border trade and tourism.