Industry Survey Highlights Buy America Concerns

What happened: Nearly two-thirds of transportation construction contractors expect to incur “significant” additional time and costs to comply with a proposed new Buy America requirement, according to a recent survey conducted by ARTBA and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a proposal March 12 to roll back its longtime waiver of manufactured products from Buy America. Instead, the agency plans to require that more than 55 percent of components in manufactured products be made in the United States.

Why it matters: The two associations conducted the survey April 26 to May 8, and submitted results to FHWA in response to a Request for Information seeking details on which manufactured products would be difficult to procure under the proposal. Among the wide array of items used in highway and bridge projects, many respondents classified electrical equipment, electronics, pavement markings and pumps as “difficult” or “impossible” to acquire and document if the waiver is rolled back. ARTBA also submitted comments with commentary on the proposed change.

What’s next: FHWA must consider comments and related information before finalizing the waiver’s future. ARTBA will stay in touch with federal policymakers on the implementation of Buy America. For more information, contact Rich Juliano or Prianka Sharma.