US Initiates National Security Investigation Into Aircraft, Jet Engine Imports

The United States was the largest importer of aircraft parts in the world in 2023, bringing in $15.3 billion worth of these goods.

A US-made F-16V fighter jet taxis on the runway at an airforce base during Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military drills in Hualien, Taiwan, on July 23, 2024. Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images

The Commerce Department initiated an investigation on May 1 to determine the impacts of commercial aircraft and jet engine imports on national security, it said in a May 9 notice.

The investigation is being conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which grants the American president broad powers to adjust imports if they are a national security threat. The measure empowers the president to initiate actions such as tariffs to tackle the issue.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has initiated Section 232 investigations into the import of pharmaceutical products, semiconductors, and trucks.

The May 9 notice calls on interested parties to submit input on the import of aircraft and jet engines.

This includes views on the current and projected demand for these products, the extent to which the domestic production is capable of meeting demand, and the role of foreign supply chains in meeting U.S. demand.

The notice seeks comments on the impact of subsidies and predatory trade practices of foreign governments on the competitiveness of the aircraft and jet engine industry in the United States. It also aims to know the potential of foreign nations to weaponize their control over supplies of these items.

Comments must be received 21 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register. The notice is scheduled to be officially published on May 13.

According to data platform Observatory of Economic Complexity, the United States imported $15.3 billion worth of aircraft parts in 2023 and was the largest importer of these items that year.

Some of the key nations that supplied these parts are the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan, and Mexico.

In May last year, the Chinese Communist Party’s Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, and the Central Military Commission issued a joint document setting export controls on certain items, which included aviation and aerospace structural parts.

If nations on which the United States depends for aircraft imports were to adopt an adversarial stance, it could put the country in a tough spot.

Tariff Impact

While the Section 232 investigation may not result in additional tariffs, the Trump administration’s existing tariffs could apply to these items.

For instance, the administration has instituted a 25 percent import tariff on Canada and Mexico as well as a 10 percent universal tariff on imports from other nations.

In a Feb. 2 statement, the Aerospace Industries Association said Canada and Mexico are two of the largest trade partners of the U.S. aerospace and defense industry.

“Decades-long trade agreements enabled robust civil aviation and defense trade that resulted in a sky-rocketing positive trade balance over the last 40 years, making aerospace and defense the largest American exporting industry,” said Dak Hardwick, vice president of international affairs at the association.

“Tariffs on Canada and Mexico could change that positive trajectory. We hope to work with the Trump Administration to find a path forward to protect this critical industry, which is a strategic asset to both our economy and our national security.”

The tariff war has affected certain U.S. aircraft sales to China. Recently, the Chinese regime ordered Chinese airlines to suspend the purchase of Boeing aircraft. Three newly built 737 MAX jets were returned to the United States.

The Trump administration has imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese products, which for some items goes up to 245 percent. Beijing has imposed 125 percent tariffs on American imports.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Shen Ming-shih, a research fellow at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said China’s cancelation of Boeing deliveries won’t sting the United States as much as Beijing expects.

“Global demand for the 737 MAX remains strong, production slots are sold out for years, while China accounts for only about 10 percent of Boeing’s commercial backlog,” he said. Boeing can potentially get new buyers for the returned jets.

Earlier in May, International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns British Airways, announced plans to buy 32 Boeing 787-10 aircraft. The planes are set to be delivered between 2028 and 2033.

On May 8, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed that a British airline agreed to buy $10 billion worth of Boeing planes. The announcement came amid the Trump administration reaching a trade deal with the UK.

Sean Tseng contributed to this report.