Tariffs might seem like a national issue, but their impact hits close to home. South Florida businesses are feeling the squeeze as imported Canadian lumber costs more to get through ports — when it gets through at all.

This drives up costs for everything from fencing and decking to the pallets businesses rely on to move goods. For companies operating on tight margins, even small increases in material costs can lead to difficult decisions around pricing, staffing, and inventory.

Local sourcing helps. By relying on regional mills and pallet producers, businesses in Florida can avoid some of the worst effects of international trade tensions.