The planned Olowalu Fire Station in West Maui now faces at least $240,000 in cost overruns after 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel hit the Alberta-based modular building supplier. The nonprofit behind the project warns costs could climb further as U.S.-Canada trade talks have collapsed.
- The originally fully funded $3 million Olowalu Fire Station now faces a $242,560 cost increase due to U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel.
- The Canadian supplier, Extreme Modular Buildings, saw its contract rise from $2.2 million to over $2.4 million after 50% steel tariffs were applied.
- U.S.-Canada trade negotiations that could have halved the tariff rate fell apart this summer, leaving costs elevated.
- Both countries escalated the dispute last week, each imposing new 50% tariffs on an additional $20 billion in each other’s goods.
- The fire station is slated for a brush-fire-prone area of West Maui and would house up to five firefighters.
Source: Maui Now
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