Phase one of the China – U.S. trade agreement leaves in place 25% tariffs on important materials for the home construction industry. Fiberboard, asphalt and roofing tiles, among others, still have punishing levies that will make it harder for the industry to ease the housing shortage in the U.S.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, some of the tariffs amount to, “a $2.5 billion tax increase on the industry.”