Arlington, VA – The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the leading voice for America’s aerospace and defense industry, today submitted comments on the Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Commercial Aircraft and Jet Engines, emphasizing the critical role of the aerospace industry in the U.S. economy, national security, and global trade leadership.
“No other manufacturing industry holistically aligns with the Trump Administration’s vision for a domestic production economy,” wrote Dak Hardwick, AIA’s Vice President of International Affairs. “Our industry creates high-wage manufacturing jobs in all 50 states, is a leader in global exports due to technological innovation and is vital to U.S. economic and national security.”
The comments point to evidence of the industry’s positive contributions to the U.S. economy, supply chain, and workforce, enabled by 45 years of tariff-free trading — underscored in a recent study AIA released in partnership with PwC. The industry supports over 100,000 companies and 2.2 million U.S. workers. In 2023, commercial aerospace generated $545.2 billion in output and contributed $284.1 billion to GDP. The A&D sector has maintained a positive trade surplus for over 70 years — the only U.S. manufacturing industry with a positive trade balance.
The association urges the Administration to utilize the investigation as an opportunity to grow the American aviation industry by addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers under the scope of Section 232. This includes the following remedies: securing preferential terms in trade negotiations; encouraging foreign investment and joint ventures; and streamlining certification and supporting capital access for new suppliers. These efforts, AIA states, will ensure the civil aviation manufacturing sector remains globally competitive, resilient, and innovative.
Read AIA’s full comments to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick here.
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