In a recent letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, as reported by Mexico Business News, Airbus Americas CEO Robin Hayes warned that U.S. tariffs on aircraft parts and components imported from Mexico and Canada could hinder domestic aircraft production. Hayes urged the U.S. government to exempt aerospace components from these tariffs and to safeguard the highly integrated North American supply chains ahead of the upcoming United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) review on July 1, 2026.
The USMCA, which entered into force on July 1, 2020, is scheduled to remain effective until 2036, unless the three member countries agree to extend it for an additional 16-year term through 2052. The July 2026 review marks the first formal opportunity for the parties to revise the agreement and decide whether to approve or oppose its renewal.
Hayes’ warning comes amid a period of strong industry growth in the United States. Airbus reported a 4% increase in commercial aircraft deliveries in 2025 and recently expanded its U.S. manufacturing footprint with the opening of a second A320 production line in Mobile, Alabama. Boeing likewise reported robust performance, recording 1,173 aircraft orders in 2025.
As to tariffs, in 2025, the U.S. exempted from tariffs aircraft and aircraft parts imported from countries in the European Union. Over time, no tariffs on European aircraft parts will likely boost innovation and growth in the U.S. aerospace sector. Extending a tariff exemption to Mexico and Canada could further propel U.S. aerospace innovation and growth.
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