A week has passed since the White House reintroduced a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel on all global imports. The move to reimpose tariffs, first implemented in 2018, comes as the current administration says it’s aiming to protect America’s aluminum and steel industries from “unfair trade practices and global excess capacity.”

While several industry and union figures, including Aluminum Association president Charles Johnson and American Primary Aluminum Association president Mark Duffy, applaud the moves, most organizations are wary that the tariffs, should they take effect as scheduled on March 12, will harm United States companies and consumers. In particular, the construction industry faces a complex landscape in the coming years, especially smaller firms running on tight margins.

The Council on Foreign Relations says the tariffs will likely raise costs for industries that rely on aluminum and steel, such as the glass industry, which uses aluminum for window, door, storefront and curtainwall systems. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, America obtains nearly half (44%) of its aluminum abroad. Two-thirds come from Canada. A 25% tariff on aluminum will increase prices throughout the built environment, trickling down to consumers.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) argues the new tariffs are projected to raise the cost of imported steel and aluminum products by several billion dollars, adding layered costs that could impact builders’ ability to deliver new single-family and multifamily projects.

“Through an executive order on his first day in office, President [Donald] Trump made it a top priority to reduce housing costs and increase housing supply to ease the nation’s housing affordability crisis,” says NAHB chairperson Carl Harris. “The administration’s move to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum products imports into the U.S. runs totally counter to this goal by raising home building costs, deterring new development and frustrating efforts to rebuild in the wake of natural disasters. Ultimately, consumers will pay for these tariffs through higher home prices.”

The glass industry also expects the tariffs to increase costs throughout the sector. An informal poll conducted by USGlass magazine found that 65% of respondents expect increased costs due to the tariffs. Fourteen percent of respondents expect to see some increases, and 14% expect no significant changes. Six percent of respondents stated they don’t use aluminum.