Pro-growth trade policies are important to aggregates and industrial sand producers, along with the manufacturers and businesses that supply them. NSSGA supported new trade agreements, such as USMCA, that restored predictability to North American trade markets and limited disruptions to the construction equipment supply chain. Such trade agreements allow for more efficient product delivery and reduced costs for equipment purchasers. We look forward to partnering with Congress and the Trump administration to introduce and enact additional agreements that will level the playing field for our nation, leading to stronger economic growth and creating good-paying jobs. NSSGA supports Congressional efforts to re-establish the ability of the Executive Branch to negotiate trade agreements through “fast track” Trade Promotion Authority.

• Tariffs: Throughout the presidential campaign, President Trump suggested implementing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico until the American border is secure and fentanyl stops entering the country. These tariffs would directly impact the aggregates industry as many parts of the country must import material from our neighboring countries. NSSGA supports an exclusion under the tariffs for construction materials and aggregates such as stone, sand or gravel, or aggregate binding agents additives.
• IIJA Buy America Exclusion: NSSGA secured a major win for the Buy America exclusion under Title 9 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which included a broad expansion of Buy America requirements to federally funded infrastructure projects. Section 70917 clearly excludes “cement and cementitious materials, aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel, or aggregate binding agents or additives” and the mixes where these products are used, like concrete and asphalt. OMB, all federal agencies, and state DoT’s must follow the statute while implementing IIJA to ensure these critical inputs and resources can be efficiently sourced. Should Congress consider further changes to federal sourcing requirements, they must not impose additional mandates on these specifically excluded materials and inputs that cannot be sourced onshore. If the exclusions are not followed, many areas of the country will not be able to build Infrastructure.