Tariffs could drive up building costs

(CNN)– President Donald Trump’s tariffs could have an unintended side effect making homeownership even less affordable for many Americans.

A new report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates that if tariffs on Canadian imports remain in place, the average cost of building a home in the U.S. could rise by an additional $14,000 in the next two years.

That’s because Canada is the third-largest source of imports used in U.S. home construction behind China and Mexico, according to the National Association of Home Builders.