Camilla Jessen
New trade measures could have major consequences, according to defense officials and industry analysts.
The U.S. government’s new import tariffs, introduced by President Donald Trump, could cause major problems for American weapons production, according to a report by Politico.
The tariffs apply to goods from most countries and may raise the cost of military equipment, delay production, and hurt long-standing international partnerships, the report says.
The Pentagon has spent years building a global network of suppliers that now risk being affected by the new trade rules.
Politico spoke with more than a dozen lawmakers, diplomats, government officials, and defense industry experts. Many of them warned that the tariffs could cause U.S. allies to rethink cooperation and look elsewhere for weapons or technology.
“The Pentagon has spent decades building, funding and developing a global network of suppliers and companies that are now facing tariffs,” Politico writes.
“Without defense exemptions, the administration could undo much of that work.”
Some major defense programs may be hit by the tariffs. These include the F-35 fighter jet, which involves 20 countries, and missile defense systems made together with Norway and Israel.
These projects are key to protecting U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, especially as Russia and China continue to upgrade their military power.
The Trump administration hopes to bring more jobs to the U.S. by making more foreign parts locally, but finding enough workers could be a problem.
The defense industry has already had a hard time hiring, as many skilled workers prefer better-paying jobs in the service sector, which often offer more stable work.
Senator Mark Kelly pointed out that many defense parts are built in steps that cross borders multiple times. That means a single part might be taxed several times before it’s finished.
“Prices are going to go up, and the prices that the Department of Defense has to pay are going to go up,” Kelly said. “Our defense budget, if we want to maintain the same type of force, is going to get more expensive.”