With the recent 10% tariff on aluminum imports authorized by President Trump on March 8, 2018, we’ve had to be more proactive and flexible in our manufacturing process in order to better serve you.
Eastern Architectural Systems manufactures impact aluminum and vinyl windows and doors; while the aluminum tariffs have not delayed our manufacturing process for vinyl products, it has caused some delay in obtaining the raw materials needed to manufacture our aluminum products.
The Scope of Aluminum Tariff Imports
To better understand the scope of the tariffs on aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and Europe, we’ve summarized a few of the major points and how it impacts your Eastern Architectural System orders.
Both critics and advocates of these tariffs acknowledge that businesses could be affected even if they don’t directly work with slabs of aluminum or steel.
Aluminum plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of our aluminum frames for your impact windows and doors, which directly impacts Eastern Architectural Systems.
Analysts are also looking through a holistic lense -- if manufacturers have to keep paying the tariffs, it can raise their costs of production and reduce their profitability, which may make some companies raise their prices, in turn making them less competitive.
“Even if an American manufacturer buys from domestic steel mills or aluminum smelters, those companies could hike their prices since they won't have to worry about as much competition from low-priced imports.” - CNN Business
While the USMCA has replaced NAFTA, the steel and aluminum tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico will be dealt with separately, according to Bloomberg.
The Bloomberg article further states:
“Trump said the steel and aluminum tariffs remain in place, but opened the door to an agreement where the countries agree to quotas...Tariffs remain ‘until such time as we can do something that would be different, like quotas, perhaps, so that our industry is protected,’ Trump said. ‘We are working on that now, that wasn’t part of this.’...U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the sides are in talks now “with an effort to try preserving the effect of our program and still take care of their needs. Hopefully we’ll be able to work that out.’”
Providing You with Impact Aluminum Windows & Doors!
We’re continuing to be proactive in our manufacturing process as best we can to provide you with high quality impact windows and doors. We’ll keep you informed in regards to how your Eastern Architectural System orders may be affected due to any new tariff and regulatory enforcements and building code.
