Tariffs & Thresholds: How 2025 Steel/Aluminum Duties Hit Door Budgets

In March 2025 the U.S. reinstated—and in some cases doubled—Section 232 tariffs, driving duties on most imported steel and aluminum to 50 % . Here’s what that means for every hollow-metal frame and aluminum storefront on your bid schedule.

1. Immediate Cost Shock

   Skanska USA’s June 3 webinar warned that tariff-driven metal surcharges could lift typical Bay Area non-residential material costs by 2–4 % in Q3 2025 alone. For a 200-opening TI project, that translates to ≈ $12 K in added door and hardware spend.

2. Supply-Chain Ripples

   1. Domestic mills are near capacity, extending lead-times on 18-gauge frames from 10 weeks to 14 weeks, per AGC’s Tariff Resource Center update (Mar 12 2025).

   2. Specialty extruded aluminum profiles face parallel antidumping reviews, though a late-2024 USITC vote declined duties on extrusions from 13 countries—a modest relief for curtain-wall but not frame stock.

3. Mitigation Strategies for GCs & Door Subs

   1. Early metal buy-outs: Lock pricing at design-assist stage; escalators now average 0.5 % per month on flat-rolled steel (Tax Foundation analysis.

   2. Alternative specs: Evaluate galvanneal vs. stainless for non-rated frames; specify verified U.S. mill sources to bypass import duties.

   3. Schedule buffers: Add 4-week slack to long-lead aluminum entrances until post-tariff market stabilizes, per Facility Executive tariff outlook (Feb 2025).

Bottom line: Tariffs won’t stop projects, but they will squeeze contingencies. Early collaboration between GC and door contractor on procurement strategy is the surest path to keeping doors—and budgets—on schedule.

References:
TIME, “Doubling Tariffs on Steel & Aluminum,” Jun 2025.
SBCA Components, “New Steel & Aluminum Tariffs Impact Construction Materials Sector,” Jun 2025.
AGC, Tariff Resource Center for Contractors, Mar 2025.
US International Trade Commission, Press Release ER1030-66075, Oct 2024.
Tax Foundation, “Section 232 Tariffs on Steel & Aluminum: Economic Impact,” 2024.
Facility Executive, “2025 Policy Changes: Tariffs’ Impact on Construction,” Mar 2025.