The U.S. building materials industry is feeling the heat as recent tariff hikes push it into what workers are calling “survival mode.” On June 3, the Trump administration announced a significant increase in tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, and their derivatives, doubling rates from 25% to 50%.
For workers like 24-year-old Ahmed Gray, who works at a building materials store in New York, the impact has been immediate and severe. “Prices have skyrocketed, and customers are staying away,” Gray shared. “Our revenue has dropped significantly.”
Public opinion polls indicate that the United States’ volatile tariff policies are backfiring, causing substantial harm to the domestic economy. The increased cost of essential materials is not only affecting businesses but also the livelihoods of ordinary workers and their families.
“I just hope the government understands what these policies are doing to people like us,” Gray said. “We’re just trying to make a living, but it’s getting harder every day.”
The sentiment is echoed across the industry, with many hoping for a reassessment of the tariff strategy. As trade tensions continue, workers and businesses alike are bracing for more challenges ahead.
