The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down the core of President Donald Trump's tariff program, a decision that could ease material costs for roofing contractors — particularly on metal-heavy scopes — while leaving other trade duties in place.

In a 6–3 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the 1977 statute the administration cited to justify broad import levies, does not authorize the president to impose tariffs without clear congressional authorization. The ruling invalidates IEEPA-based duties that applied broadly to imports from nearly all trading partners, including additional tariffs the administration imposed affecting trade with Canada, Mexico, and China.

Roofing contractors have been living with tariff-driven volatility for months as the administration’s emergency tariffs moved through the courts and Congress. A New York federal trade judge struck down Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs in May 2025, and a federal appeals court later ruled Aug. 30 that Trump overstepped his authority under IEEPA—though the duties were left in place pending further review, with an Oct. 14 expiration date set at the time. Against that backdrop, the administration imposed 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum in March 2025, later raising them to 50% by June 4, with 50% tariffs on copper beginning Aug. 1, RC previously reported. A September 2025 RC column said the ripple effect was already hitting home improvement—especially metal-based roofing accessories such as gutter guards—with contractors grappling with price increases, supply-chain bottlenecks and tighter margins. On Oct. 30, 2025, the Senate voted 59–41 to revoke Trump’s emergency tariff authority under IEEPA as builders warned higher metal costs were delaying bids and projects. Economists have also cautioned that tariffs can take 12–18 months to fully register in the economy, which helps explain why any price relief—if it comes—may lag the court ruling.

What it Means for Roofing

Roofing contractors have been watching tariffs closely because many assemblies depend on metal inputs and accessory packages that are sensitive to import costs and availability. Metal roofing systems, edge metal, gutters, flashing, and steel-dependent fasteners are among the categories most likely to feel any change first, particularly where suppliers had been pricing in tariff risk.

But any relief may not show up immediately. Distributors typically sell through existing inventory purchased under earlier cost structures, and manufacturers may be slow to adjust list prices until the policy outlook is clearer. Meanwhile, the administration has indicated it may explore other legal routes to reimpose some tariffs—an uncertainty that could keep contractors cautious on long-duration bids.

The decision does not wipe out all U.S. tariffs. It applies only to duties imposed under the emergency-powers law (IEEPA); tariffs created under other trade statutes—including those tied to national-security and unfair-trade findings—remain in place.

Bill Owens, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio, said the ruling “reins in presidential authority” under IEEPA but warned Trump “still has wide latitude” on tariff policy, urging the administration to “exempt building materials” because they raise construction costs and disrupt supply chains.

Related: The Benefits of Choosing Metal Roof Systems Made in the USA

What Comes Next

Industry groups and suppliers will be watching the administration’s next move, including whether it attempts to rebuild parts of the tariff agenda through other statutes or asks Congress for new authority. The ruling also raises the prospect of refund disputes over duties already collected under the invalidated regime—an issue that could matter most to larger firms and private-label importers that bring products in directly.

In the near term, contractors may see the earliest signals in distributor pricing bulletins, lead-time updates on metal accessories, and broader movements in metal pricing benchmarks—before any changes filter through to jobsite quotes.