The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has issued a response to the recent tariffs imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico. These two countries are significant trade partners for the American aerospace and defense industry.

Dak Hardwick, AIA’s Vice President of International Affairs, stated, “The Aerospace Industries Association supports the Trump Administration’s goal of making our country more secure and prosperous, and we value our long-standing role in achieving these objectives as a top exporting industry and a partner in providing the most cutting-edge equipment and aircraft for our troops. We are assessing the potential impact of these tariffs on our industry and our supply chain, which is unique to our sector and shared between commercial and defense companies.”

Hardwick emphasized that longstanding trade agreements have fostered substantial civil aviation and defense trade over decades. This has resulted in a significant positive trade balance for aerospace and defense, marking it as America's largest exporting industry. He expressed concern that tariffs on Canada and Mexico could alter this 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,” he added.