The Trump administration launched an investigation in early May to “determine the effects of national security” of commercial aircraft and jet engines imports, as well as parts for them.
Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick initiated the investigation on May 1, 2025, with the notice published on May 9, 2025. The investigation was initiated under the 1962 trade expansion act.
The notice said it would consider whether additional measures such as tariffs are “necessary to protect national security”.
The department of commerce said interested parties of the public are invited to submit their comments. The department noted it was particularly interested in current and project aircraft and engine demand, the extent to which domestic production can meet domestic demand as well as the role of foreign supply chains, amongst other items.
The investigation will allow look at the impact of “foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices on the competitiveness” of the commercial aircraft and engine industry, as well as the impact of “artificially suppressed prices” of these items due to “foreign unfair trade practices and state-sponsored overproduction”.