ABMA says unpredictable tariff timelines are forcing short-term pricing that ultimately falls on homeowners.
RENSSELAER, N.Y., August 28, 2026—ABMA called on policymakers to prioritize clarity and lead time in future trade and tariff decisions, warning that unpredictable tariff policy is driving up costs for builders and homeowners nationwide.
“Our central concern with tariffs isn’t necessarily their existence—it’s their unpredictability,” said ABMA Chair Rod Wiles. “Retailers and our customers can adapt to a lot of things, but we can’t adapt to pricing we can’t plan around.”
When tariffs are announced abruptly, delayed, threatened, or left pending without resolution, suppliers and builders are unable to commit to long-term pricing because they don’t know what their own costs will look like in three to six months. It is not uncommon for suppliers to raise prices the moment tariff discussions begin—well before any legislation officially takes effect. The result is that pricing throughout the supply chain shifts toward short-term, defensive terms, which are more expensive, less efficient, and ultimately passed on to the homeowner.
“When trade policy fluctuates, it creates uncertainty throughout the market and makes it more difficult for our members to plan, price, and serve their customers,” said Kevin Scorsone, ABMA director of legislative and regulatory affairs. “High tariffs are difficult enough to manage on their own. Uncertainty and shifting deadlines can be even more damaging.”
Housing affordability remains a top priority for ABMA, regardless of the legislative or political environment. Housing inventory and affordability are already significant concerns nationwide and particularly acute in high-cost regions such as the Northeast.
“Tariffs are much more than a trade issue,” said NRLA President Rita Ferris. “They have a direct impact on what people pay for a home, and they can price families out of the market entirely.”
The impact extends well beyond any single region. In Florida, a state facing its own acute affordability and inventory pressures, allied industry leaders say the stakes are just as high.
“Our members are hard-working, small business owners who absorb costs wherever and whenever they can,” said Executive Director Kristina Berano of the Florida Building Materials Association. “But those costs cannot be carried indefinitely. What our industry needs isn’t necessarily the absence of tariffs—it’s clarity and lead time. Predictable rules, even strict ones, let suppliers lock in pricing and let builders quote homeowners with confidence.”
ABMA emphasized that educating policymakers on the real-world effects of shifting trade deadlines and sudden tariff threats is a top advocacy priority. The Alliance says it will continue to push for long-term trade agreements that establish stable, predictable frameworks for businesses and the customers they serve.
About the American Building Materials Alliance
The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) is a coalition advocating on behalf of the lumber and building materials industry at the federal level, representing LBM dealers and associated businesses across 17 states and Washington, D.C. ABMA is powered by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA) and the Florida Building Material Association (FBMA).
Kevin Scorsone
Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs
American Building Materials Alliance
Direct Line: 518-880-6376
Email: kscorsone@nrla.org
