United States Launches Section 232 Investigation Into Airplane Imports

On May 9, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced it will investigate the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft and jet engines, and parts for commercial aircraft and jet engines. The notice, which comes one day after the European Union (EU) proposed potential retaliatory tariffs on U.S. aircraft, does not mention derivative products. According to this analysis,

BIS has asked the public and interested parties for feedback on:

• Current and projected U.S. demand;
• U.S. production capacity and the feasibility of increasing U.S. capacity;
• The role of foreign supply chains, particularly of major exporters, in meeting U.S. demand;
• The concentration of U.S. imports from a small number of suppliers and the associated risks;
• The impact of foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices on U.S. commercial aircraft and jet engine parts industry competitiveness;
• The economic impact of suppressed prices due to unfair foreign trade practices and state-sponsored overproduction;
• The potential for export restrictions by foreign nations, including the ability of foreign nations to weaponize their control over supplies of commercial aircraft, jet engines, and associated parts; and
• The impact of current trade policies on domestic production, and whether additional measures, including tariffs or quotas, are necessary to protect national security.

Interested parties have until June 3, 2025 to comment on the investigation. Read more and learn how to comment at this link.