What adjusted steel, aluminum and copper tariffs mean for construction | Construction Dive

An article from What adjusted steel, aluminum and copper tariffs mean for construction Contractors on the ground say the latest Section 232 tariffs’ effects on construction projects will vary widely depending on material type and embedded metal content. Published April 8, 2026 Sebastian Obando Reporter Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Add us on Google Copper pipes on display at a home rebuilding store on July 9, 2025, in New York City, N.Y. Spencer Platt/Getty Images via Getty Images Listen to the article 4 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Contractors are pricing jobs without a clear read on what their materials will ultimately cost in this environment, according to industry sources. The Trump administration’s latest adjustment to Section 232 tariffs, which were announced April 2 and took effect Monday, raise duties to as high as 50% on goods made almost entirely of steel, aluminum or copper. Derivative goods "substantially made” of steel, aluminum or copper incur a 25% levy. Though the change aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing capability, contractors on the ground say the direct effects on construction projects will vary widely. “Upon initial review, the updated Section 232 requirements announced on April 2 may influence project pricing, but the full impact will take time to understand,” Tim Jed, supply chain leader at Santa Clara, California-based DPR Construction, told Construction Dive. “In...