Check supplier pricing and agreements for aluminium windows and doors

Master Builders ACT urges residential and commercial builders, particularly those delivering Class 1 and Class 2 projects, to urgently check their exposure to new provisional trade measures affecting aluminium windows and doors imported from China.

What has changed?

From 15 October 2026, importers of affected goods must provide financial securities against potential anti-dumping and countervailing duties while the Australian Trade Remedies Commission completes its investigation.

Published security rates vary significantly by exporter, reaching 73.3% for some exporters. These rates are not a uniform increase in the price builders will pay for their window and door packages.

The Commission’s final recommendations are due to the Minister by 16 December 2026. The Minister will then decide whether final duties will apply and at what rates. Members should not assume the provisional requirements end in December.

What should members do now?

Members should contact their suppliers and:

• – confirm whether current and proposed window and door packages include affected Chinese imports
• – obtain written advice on any price changes, the basis for those changes and which orders are affected
• – review existing quotations, purchase orders and supply agreements, particularly provisions dealing with duties, price escalation and responsibility for additional costs
• – confirm whether agreed prices and delivery dates will be honoured
• – review project budgets and tender allowances, and seek advice before accepting additional charges or proposing any corresponding client variation.

The impact on each project will depend on the relevant exporter’s rate, the importer’s and supplier’s pricing decisions, and the applicable contract terms.

Master Builders Australia’s advocacy

Master Builders Australia opposed the imposition of these measures in its December 2025 submission, highlighting the implications for construction costs, housing affordability and project viability, including Class 2 construction.

It also called for a four-to-five-year transition if tariffs were introduced, to protect projects already priced and allow domestic manufacturing capacity to develop.

Master Builders ACT is concerned that these measures will add serious cost pressures to an industry already facing tight margins and challenging project feasibility. Additional supply costs risk flowing through to homebuyers and other clients, further undermining affordability. Builders may also face immediate exposure where existing contracts do not allow those costs to be recovered.

Please check your supplier agreements now and contact Master Builders ACT if you are experiencing price increases or uncertainty about an existing order.

View the official investigation and updates here.