Will Trump tariffs cause a construction slowdown in Cincinnati?

You can’t build a bridge without steel, not to mention a hospital, parking garage or high-rise residential tower. Cincinnati has an active pipeline of such projects and the cost of all them are on the rise, thanks to a new 25 percent tariff on imported steel from Europe, Canada and Mexico. It took effect last week, along with a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum. Construction-industry trade groups have lobbied against the trade sanctions, arguing they will put future projects in jeopardy from rising costs and a lack of supply for American-made steel and aluminum products. But those involved in the local construction industry see no cause for alarm just yet. “There’s still a lot of demand in the marketplace for new construction and renovation projects,” said Mark Luegering, chief operating officer for