A Letter From Our CEO: Tariffs Were Meant to Bring Jobs Home — They’re Doing the Opposite
Dear Clients, Partners, and Friends,
At Far Point Global, we are deeply committed to supporting American workers—from farmers to builders to developers—who keep our communities strong. But a conversation I had this morning with an exceptional builder left me frustrated, and it’s a story every American deserves to hear.
The Reality on the Ground
The builder laid it out plainly: tariffs aren’t bringing manufacturing back.
Why? Because tariffs have caused material costs to spike by 4–6% in 2025, with steel prices up 8–20% and Canadian lumber potentially rising 34.5%. According to the National Association of Home Builders, this adds $7,500 to $10,900 per home—making domestic sourcing unaffordable for many projects.
But this isn’t just about protecting profit margins—it’s about survival. Finishing construction products in the U.S. has become prohibitively expensive. Higher input costs for raw materials, compounded by U.S. labor costs, make domestic manufacturing unsustainable. Lower-cost input materials allowed developers to build more, keeping construction projects alive and employing hardworking Americans—workers who pour concrete, frame buildings, and install systems, often living paycheck to paycheck.
Now, many developers are being forced to import finished goods directly, bypassing U.S. manufacturing altogether to keep projects viable and keep construction crews active.
Tariffs, sold as a tool to revive U.S. manufacturing and create jobs, are failing to deliver. Instead, they are driving up construction costs, pushing developers to source even more materials overseas, and jeopardizing the very jobs they were meant to protect.
Global Supply Chains, American Jobs
Let’s be clear: international supply chains are not the enemy. Forklifts have come from Japan for decades. Toilet fixtures from Asia and Germany are industry standards. These global networks enable U.S. construction and support millions of American jobs.
At Far Point Global, our [e.g., steel frames, modular farm structures, storefronts, doors, etc.] rely on these international partnerships to deliver quality and affordability to our clients, on projects from rural farms to urban developments. Tariffs disrupt this balance, raising costs, delaying approvals, and putting vital construction projects—and jobs—at risk.
The Misplaced Focus
Too often, the tariff debate fixates on massive corporations like Apple or Samsung or big auto. But that’s only part of the story.
Construction, agriculture, and real estate—the industries we proudly serve—depend on a complex web of global trade that directly supports millions of American workers.
The current administration’s approach—with tariffs as high as 125% on Chinese steel and confusing plans to phase in reductions (e.g., talks of a 65% cut over five years)—ignores the everyday realities faced by builders, contractors, and developers.
Blanket tariffs and unpredictable trade policies don’t protect American workers; they threaten their livelihoods.
Far Point Global’s Commitment
At Far Point Global, we are fundamentally a market maker for highly illiquid “commodities.” We have seen the pivot from raw material to completed products, eliminating directly thousands of jobs, and indirectly millions of jobs if this continues.
We are optimizing our supply chains, identifying tariff-light sources, and working hand-in-hand with builders, developers, and CEOs to keep projects moving forward. Our mission is simple: deliver high-quality, affordable materials that empower not just American owners, but American workers—not burden them.
We believe America’s strength lies not in isolation but in smart global partnerships that bring real, tangible benefits to communities across this country.
The builder I spoke with today deserves better. So do the workers swinging hammers, framing walls, and driving forklifts across America.
A concerned American,
Myles Lewis Alexander
CEO, Far Point Global