In Episode 48 of What the RFI?, Matt Brennan looks at the latest Canada-U.S. trade dispute and what it could mean for construction projects on both sides of the border.
With new U.S. tariffs affecting billions of dollars of Canadian goods and Canada preparing retaliatory measures, construction materials including steel, aluminum, lumber, cement, plywood, paint, and other building products are increasingly caught in the middle.
And we’re already seeing major volatility in material pricing.
On a recent project, a steel detailer described steel pricing that had previously been around $1 per pound now exceeding $3.50 per pound. Tariffs aren’t necessarily responsible for that entire increase, but it’s a real-world example of just how quickly construction material pricing can change.
The bigger Construction Administration question is what happens when those increases reach a project that has already been tendered or is under construction.
Who carries the additional cost?
What does the construction contract say about tariffs, duties, taxes, and material escalation?
How should an architect or consultant evaluate a tariff-related change?
What documentation should contractors provide?
Could tariff uncertainty result in larger contingencies, shorter quote validity periods, earlier procurement, or more substitution requests?
And what happens to construction budgets when nobody knows what materials will cost six or twelve months from now?
This episode looks beyond the political headlines and focuses on the practical impact tariffs can have on architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and construction projects across Canada and the United States.
Because tariffs might be negotiated in Ottawa and Washington, but eventually they can find their way into our tenders, RFIs, substitution requests, change orders, and construction budgets.
Recorded August 24, 2026.
The Canada-U.S. trade situation is developing quickly. Tariffs, counter-tariffs, and trade policies discussed in this episode reflect information available at the time of recording and may change.
CHAPTERS
00:00 50% Tariffs and Construction
01:36 What Happened With Canada-U.S. Trade Talks?
03:20 Construction Materials Affected by Tariffs
05:14 Why Tariffs Matter to Construction
05:31 Steel Prices: $1 to Over $3.50 Per Pound
09:35 Why U.S. Construction Could Be Affected Too
12:58 Construction Pricing and Tariff Uncertainty
16:04 What Happens to Existing Construction Contracts?
16:47 Proving Tariff-Related Construction Costs
19:40 Get Ready for Substitution Requests
22:00 What Construction Teams Should Do Now
23:42 What Happens Next?
🎙️ What the RFI? is a podcast about Construction Administration and the real-world challenges that happen between the drawings and the finished building.
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What the RFI? — The Construction Administration Podcast
Practical guidance for architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, owners, and project managers navigating construction administration.