The Transatlantic Trade War Is Far From Over—and Construction Buyers Should Take Note
The headlines make it sound like progress is being made between the U.S. and the European Union. Talks are “accelerating,” officials are “optimistic,” and there’s hope that cooler heads will prevail. But underneath the diplomatic framing, the reality is far more complex—and for industries like construction, the stakes are growing more immediate by the day.
The EU is pushing for a broader, deeper trade agreement than what the U.S. recently signed with the UK or China. Officials in Brussels have made it clear: they don’t want a symbolic deal. They want meaningful tariff reductions and greater access to the U.S. market—terms that go beyond what the Trump administration has offered its other trading partners.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is playing hardball. President Trump has stated bluntly that the U.S. “holds all the cards” in these negotiations, and his administration continues to dangle tariff rollbacks while simultaneously preparing to reinstate or even increase duties if talks stall. The EU has already responded by preparing a retaliatory tariff list exceeding $100 billion in American goods. This is not just posturing—it’s a high-stakes chess match.
But what often gets lost in this kind of policy discourse is how it hits sectors outside the usual suspects like automotive and luxury goods. The U.S. construction industry is a frequent buyer from Europe. Whether it’s overhead bridge cranes from Germany, specialized glazing systems from Italy, or structural hardware from Spain, Europe remains a critical source of construction inputs—especially in mid to high-spec commercial projects.
These aren’t luxury items. These are core components of active builds.
That’s why I believe now is the time to act. In my view, it would be prudent—smart insurance, really—to purchase whatever European-sourced materials you expect to need for the next three to four months right now. Not in August. Not once prices jump. The window for low or zero tariffs is likely closing, and while I suspect the final settlement may land below 10%, the road to that outcome could include several months of increased duties, supplier uncertainty, and pricing volatility.
We’ve seen this before: initial optimism followed by retaliation, reevaluation, and compromise. But while politicians negotiate, supply chains absorb the shock in real time.
At Far Point Global, we’ve already begun advising clients to accelerate orders on European-sourced industrial components, locking in current pricing and ensuring delivery before potential tariff spikes. If you’re operating with 90-day project cycles, the cost of waiting may quickly outpace the savings of delay.
This trade war is far from over. And unlike what the media may be saying this goes beyond Italian loafers and German cars, this round reaches deeper into the structural economy.