Introduction
Staying resilient in a turbulent U.S. construction market
By Rachel Personius, Director, Sustainability
The second quarter of 2025 has started with uncertainty for the U.S. construction sector.
Tariffs on Chinese goods have dropped from a high of 145% to 30%. But the earlier impact is still being felt. When tariffs peaked, many importers reduced shipments. That meant fewer ships at ports and fewer containers in circulation. As a result, capacity fell. This disruption continues to strain supply chains. Costs are going up, and deliveries are taking longer.
However, there are signs of progress. The U.S. administration is now open to negotiating new trade deals. Once in place, these deals could reduce pressure on supply chains and capital programs. That would bring more predictability to pricing, planning, and delivery.
This won’t happen overnight. As we said last quarter, the best strategy is to stay informed, plan with flexibility, and focus on building resilience.
In a market like this, success isn’t about prediction. It’s about preparation.
Turning challenge into opportunity
Policy shifts and trade volatility aren’t just risks to manage. They are shaping where investment and innovation need to go next.
This is especially true for clean energy sources.
Few technologies reveal the tension between policy and progress as clearly as solar energy.
Rising tariffs are increasing risks for developers and asset owners. Costs are going up just as demand for clean energy is growing fast.
Clients want to protect budgets and manage risk without slowing delivery. To do that, they are rethinking procurement and building stronger domestic supply chains. The goal is to find practical and resilient ways to keep projects moving.
