On April 2, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a major Executive Order that could reshape the landscape for U.S. manufacturers, importers, and exporters. Titled “Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits”, the order establishes sweeping new tariffs in response to what the administration calls an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to America’s economic and national security.
Update (April 10, 2025): Global Trade Uncertainty and What It Means for the Industry
In a surprising move, President Trump announced a temporary pause on certain retaliatory tariffs, easing pressure on dozens of countries—but not on China, where a 145% import tariff remains firmly in place. While this shift has brought momentary relief, it also underscores a deeper issue: the volatile and unpredictable nature of current U.S. trade policy.
Markets responded with a sharp reversal. After a historic rally, the stock market took a hit:
This instability is affecting more than just Wall Street. Economists now warn that the stop-start tariff approach could dampen long-term investment and global economic growth. For industries like construction and manufacturing—where planning, procurement, and logistics are tightly interconnected—this volatility creates significant uncertainty.
China's response has been measured but firm, stating that while “the door to talks remains open,” any further escalation will be met with proportional measures. Meanwhile, the EU is temporarily holding off on its own retaliatory tariffs, offering a 90-day window in hopes of de-escalation.
What This Means for the Construction Sector
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🏗️ Material Costs: With tariffs still impacting key raw materials and finished goods, pricing pressure remains in many areas of the building envelope.
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⏳ Supply Planning: Uncertainty around what tariffs will be reinstated (or removed next) makes long-term planning more complex.
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🌐 International Sourcing: Companies dependent on global supply chains, especially with ties to China, face the most pressure.
At Oskorp, we’re monitoring the situation closely and are prepared to adjust strategies as needed. We remain committed to transparency, adaptability, and supporting our customers through changing conditions.
We’ll continue to update you as more developments unfold.
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The full order can be read here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/
Here’s what you need to know.
⚠️ A National Emergency Has Been Declared
The order declares a national emergency based on the United States’ $1.2 trillion trade deficit in goods. The administration argues that decades of non-reciprocal trade policies have:
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Hollowed out U.S. manufacturing
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Undermined critical supply chains
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Made the defense-industrial base dependent on foreign adversaries
In other words: we import more than we export, and that imbalance is now seen as a direct threat to U.S. security.
💸 A New 10% Tariff on All Imports
Starting April 5, 2025, a 10% ad valorem tariff will apply to all imported goods entering the U.S., unless exempted (see below). This is a base tariff—country-specific increases come shortly after.
📈 Country-Specific Tariffs Begin April 9
Some countries—like China, India, Brazil, Vietnam, and members of the EU—face even higher tariffs based on the lack of reciprocity in trade. Exact rates are laid out in an annex to the order and target industries like:
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Automotive
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Electronics
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Agriculture
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Metals
You can view Annex I here.
🔍 Exemptions Include:
Some goods are not subject to the new tariffs, including:
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Critical materials: pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, energy, copper, and minerals
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Items already covered under past Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs
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USMCA-compliant goods from Canada or Mexico
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Goods with 20%+ U.S. content (only the foreign portion is taxed)
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Imports valued below de minimis thresholds (until systems are in place to collect)
You can view the full exemption list in Annex II here.
Why This Matters for Oskorp and Our Industry
Oskorp operates at the intersection of construction, manufacturing, and supply chain strategy. Here’s how this order could impact our customers, partners, and U.S. operations:
✅ Domestic manufacturing advantage:
U.S.-made products become more price-competitive as foreign goods face new tariffs.
📦 Imported product pricing may rise:
Expect cost increases for imported construction components, tools, and some raw materials. For European imports, we anticipate a price increase of 15-20%, depending on the product category and supply chain complexity.
🧱 Reshoring and resilience efforts get a boost:
The order aligns with broader moves to rebuild domestic production, particularly in strategic sectors like housing materials, insulation, and adhesives.
🔄 Flexibility Built Into the Order
The President retains the authority to:
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Increase tariffs further if foreign retaliation occurs
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Reduce tariffs if countries change their trade practices
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Modify duties based on U.S. manufacturing performance
This means the current situation could evolve quickly—and unpredictably.
🧠 Our Take
At Oskorp, we’ve always believed in future-proofing construction and manufacturing. While this order brings uncertainty, it also reinforces the importance of domestic production, resilient supply chains, and smart sourcing.
We’ll continue to monitor the effects of this policy—and support our partners with high-performance, U.S.-stocked solutions that meet today’s challenges.
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