FHWA is proposing to roll back a Buy America waiver and a majority of contractors believe it will add time and cost to ensure compliance.
For more than 40 years, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has maintained a Buy America waiver for most manufactured products permanently incorporated into road and bridge projects. The agency now proposes to roll back that waiver to support President Biden’s agenda of bringing back domestic manufacturing.
AGC and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) jointly surveyed members on Buy America requirements for manufactured products and the potential impact on projects which receive federal funding.
AGC has always supported the goal of strengthening domestic manufacturing. However, the survey results show the challenge contractors will face trying to comply with the new requirements while minimizing project cost increases and delays.