The previously paused tariffs on imports from Canada, China and Mexico went into effect this week, triggering retaliatory effects from Canada and China. The current administration announced Monday that, effective Tuesday, March 4, it would leverage 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico. The administration also raised the tariff on imports from China from 10% to 20%.
According to USA Today, Canada and China declared retaliatory tariffs shortly thereafter. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country will immediately apply a 25% tariff to $20.7 billion worth of U.S. goods, adding $86.2 billion after 21 days if the U.S. tariffs aren’t withdrawn. China implemented 10-15% tariffs on certain U.S. agricultural products.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told the press that her country will leverage “tariff and non-tariff measures,” which she plans to announce in a public speech on March 9, BBC reports.
Some economists predict that newly instated tariffs will increase inflation, raising prices for Americans on a variety of goods. According to The Wall Street Journal, tariffs could increase the cost of new vehicles in the U.S. by thousands.
So far as materials used in doors and windows are concerned, data from the United States Census Bureau says the United States imported almost $280 million worth of plate and sheet glass from Canada in 2024, almost $310 million from Mexico and about $888 million from China. Changes could potentially impact the fenestration industries both directly and indirectly as tariffs on softwood lumber are expected to increase costs for residential construction, officials at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) warned. According to NAHB chairperson Carl Harris, more than 70% of the imports for softwood lumber and gypsum come from Canada and Mexico.
“Uncertainty on the tariff front helped push builders’ expectations for future sales volume down to the lowest level since December 2023,” Harris said.
When tariffs were announced initially, a statement released by the Window & Door Manufacturers Association said manufacturers of doors, windows and skylights were “expressing significant concerns.”
Manufacturers tell [DWM] they’re unsure of how new tariffs might impact their businesses. Those that work with aluminum and steel say they’ve already been affected, but that the long-term impacts remain unclear.
In February, President Trump announced and then paused tariffs on Mexico and Canada after negotiations with the countries’ respective leaders. The tariffs are designed to promote American jobs and encourage the countries to curb illegal immigrants and alleged fentanyl traffic, he said.
Abby Bowman and Drew Vass both contributed to this report.