Massachusetts construction projects stall on uncertainty over tariffs on Canadian lumber, steel, aluminum, concrete; since Canada supplies most of New England’s building materials, trade war could raise costs 25% or more, worsen housing affordability

LOS ANGELES , April 28, 2025 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) –

Massachusetts construction projects are stalled by uncertainty over Canadian tariffs on lumber, steel, aluminum, aggregate and concrete, as rising costs—potentially 25% or more—leave developers hesitant to break ground, MassLive reported on April 28. Since Canada supplies most of New England’s building materials, any U.S.-Canada trade war driven by the Canadian election could sharply increase prices, worsen housing affordability, and boost unemployment in the regional construction industry.