**Washington, D.C.:** The 2025 FGIA Annual Conference focused on innovation and the impacts of new regulatory approaches, including tariffs and trade relationships with Canada, China, and Mexico, as industry leaders discussed significant changes under the current administration and their effects on the building products sector.
The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance’s (FGIA) 2025 Annual Conference commenced on Tuesday, focusing on discussions around technology and innovation within the industry. On Wednesday, dialogue naturally shifted towards the potential impacts of a new administration on regulations and trade policies, which have become critical topics for the attendees.
In a detailed regulatory and legislative report covering the United States and Canada, various presenters, including FGIA U.S. technical operations director Kathy Krafka Harkema, addressed executive orders related to tariffs, federal employment reductions, and a temporary freeze on regulatory development. Harkema highlighted what she termed a “massive U.S. trade deficit,” attributing it to an urgent need for the government to eliminate waste. “We haven’t seen such a rapid time of change ever,” Harkema remarked during the conference.
She elaborated on the current federal policy of re-hiring at a restrictive rate of one employee for every four that are laid off— a recurring theme in the discussions surrounding the administration’s new approach. Harkema noted that with the government halting funding and policy activities, several executive orders focused on climate change have emerged, alongside a possible establishment of a new federal agency, the External Revenue Service, to oversee tariffs and foreign trade revenues.
In her address, Harkema pointed out the strategic imposition of tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico, which she asserted were intended to encourage these nations to enter negotiations to revise trade practices and enhance border protections. “Literally, every single trade agreement that the U.S. has with other countries is now under review,” she said.
Following Harkema’s comments, Amy Roberts, FGIA director of Canadian and technical glass operations, emphasised the significance of trade relationships between U.S. states and Canada, declaring that Canada is a crucial trading partner, being the largest export partner for several states and among the top three for 46 states. Concurrently, Roberts informed attendees that Canada plans to impose a 25% tariff on approximately $30 billion worth of goods, including wooden doors and windows, amidst unveiling a new border management plan involving a $1.3 billion investment and the appointment of a new czar to address illegal fentanyl imports.
Jean Marois, vice president of sales and engineering for Thermoplast Extrusions, conveyed the possible immediate impact of these tariffs on Canadian companies, particularly stating that 15% of his company’s products target U.S. buyers, and mentioning the already imposed steel and aluminium tariffs. As negotiations unfold, he suggested that large companies would need to exert pressure on the government to prevent further tariffs.
In a forum centred on vinyl materials, Ned Monroe, president and CEO of the Vinyl Institute (VI) and chair of the Global Vinyl Council, discussed the implications of tariffs on certain materials as well. He warned that companies dealing with resins for vinyl products could face substantial tariffs; a 25% duty could apply to materials exported to Canada, and another 25% on finished goods when imported back to the U.S. Monroe expressed astonishment at the pace of these transitional changes, declaring, “I don’t think anyone disagrees that we have to reduce waste and the workforce, but the speed with which changes are occurring is dizzying.”
As discussions extended to future U.S. involvement in an international plastics treaty being negotiated by the United Nations, Monroe acknowledged uncertainty in the outcomes, particularly under the new administration, which may adopt a different stance from previous positions, especially regarding manufacturing practices of plastic goods. “In this room, I think we have four years without any real concerns,” he noted, but added that the business sector is lobbying for an America-first perspective on plastics production.
Harkema concluded that the next four years could signal a critical period for those linked to the building products sector, citing the presence of “a builder in the White House” with knowledge of construction materials and their implications on costs and regulatory changes. The outcome and long-term effects of the current administration’s policies on the fenestration and glazing industry remain to be seen.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
