In March 2018, when a large tariff increase—25%—on steel imports went into effect, alarm bells went off in the construction industry. A cost increase of this size impacts bottom lines, so everyone in the industry braced for a blow. The tension was high. The U.S. is the largest steel importer throughout the world (Trade.gov) and, when the new tariff began, the construction industry was growing faster than at any time since 2010, when recovery from the Great Recession began. Just when recovery was taking off, this new threat loomed. Questions related to the new cost of steel and its available … Read more