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Looks like 25 percent aluminum and steel tariffs for now

As of 4:45 on March 12, Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel are in place but the threat to raise them to 50 percent has been taken off the table following an agreement with Ontario premier Doug Ford to not put 25 percent export tariffs on Ontario electricity. Who knows what 4:46 will bring.

In comments to Glass Canada, Blake Sanders of Spandreltech and OGMA president explained how tariffs affect businesses like his. Spandreltech exports about 30 percent of its aluminum spandrel panel production to the U.S. and its products will be directly affected. Sanders says he has had to scramble to change estimates hours after making them as Trump’s trade policy changes minute-by-minute. U.S. clients are seeking to negotiate over who will bear the cost of the tariffs. However, this is less of a problem than the paperwork and delays. Previously, Spandreltech was able to ship product to the U.S. with a minimum of bureaucracy because no duties were owed. Now, the American receiver must be identified as an importer and all shipments cleared through customs brokers before final delivery, adding unpredictable hours or days to deliveries. Sanders says his company is already making efforts to find more business in western Canada and elsewhere to make up an anticipated drop in U.S. orders.