In the face of increased tariffs, including a 14.38% tariff on Canadian lumber, the lumber market is undergoing developments that could have substantial implications for construction projects across Texas. It is important to understand how potential cost increases might affect project costs, contractual obligations and risk management strategies.
The Current Lumber Landscape
April 5, 2025 was a seminal day for both the construction industry and the Trump Administration. It was the day reciprocal tariffs on widely used construction materials were to go into effect. The Trump Administration’s stated goals for the reciprocal tariffs are (i) rebuilding the United States’ manufacturing base (including the defense industrial base), (ii)
Well, Q1 of 2025 ended with a bang and continued the expansion of transactional work for the Gray Reed Construction Team. The announcement of tariffs and feared disruptions in the supply chain certainly created a point of emphasis when reviewing and negotiating contracts. Any time the marketplace sees sharp material increases in material pricing, disruptions
A decision out of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas[1] showcases the practical challenge in the relationship between workers’ compensation and the pleading standards required to trigger insurance coverage. The underlying facts follow a familiar pattern.
Nautilus Summarized
Blazer Building Texas, LLC (“Blazer”) hired Ranger Fire, Inc. (“Ranger”) to
What’s the deal with inflation and interest rates? Inflation has been, unfortunately, a hot topic as of late. In the wake of COVID-19, inflation has caused rising prices and unpredictable market conditions that affect everyone from individuals to global businesses. Add in rising interest rates and it’s easy to see how the American economy can
My colleague (Graham Quinn) recently wrote an article about the potential financial impact of the impending steel and aluminum tariffs on the construction industry. See hyperlink: The Impact of President Trump’s Steel and Aluminum Tariffs on the Construction Industry | Texas Construction Law Blog. One question that we are receiving is whether
As 2025 rolls forward, momentum is gaining quickly as the Gray Reed Construction Team and I are experiencing a large influx of construction contracts to review and redline for negotiations. Each consecutive week has seen more and more at every level, including Owner –> GC, GC –> Subcontractor, and Supplier/Manufacturer –> Contractor. With so much
Industrial construction is poised for continued growth in 2025, especially with the incoming presidential administration and its anticipated emphasis on domestic economic production. Nowhere will this growth be seen more than in Texas with the continued emphasis on business relocation, economic development and population growth. Houston and the surrounding industrial center will likely see capital
After a company has been sued, its immediate next steps should be twofold: consult its lawyer and notify its insurance carrier. The carrier should pick up the defense and provide an attorney to represent the company for a claim covered by the applicable insurance policy. The company’s current lawyer’s (who knows
The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) is now in full effect, and this comprehensive legislation establishes stringent mandates on how consumer-related personal data of Texas residents should be collected, used, processed, sold and shared. In the construction industry, businesses that market or sell goods or services to consumers, or B2C