Canada’s home building sector is worried the price of materials it relies on will go up.
Cheryl Shindruk, an executive at a residential developing company in southern Ontario, recently told the Canadian Press that it is difficult so far to pinpoint to what extent costs might rise.
But the uncertainty has already delayed project deadlines as her company pivots to sourcing materials locally or elsewhere.
She said some materials, like layered glass windows, cannot be replicated in Canada or non-US markets, giving her and others no choice but to pay the higher prices.
Canada has also targeted carpets, flooring and shingles with counter measures. Mr Barclay told the BBC that there has been a slight increase in the cost of homeowners’ maintenance and repairs as a result.
The prices of plumbing, utilities and structural steel framing have all increased, according to Statistics Canada data.
The Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) had predicted earlier this year that an ongoing US-Canada trade war would slow the economy and limit housing activity, include buying, selling and construction.
Provinces that have been harder hit by tariffs, like Ontario – in part due to its significant auto manufacturing sector – are already seeing a slowdown in housing starts by eight to 26%, according to CMHC data.