EU-US tariffs: the aeronautics sector hovers far above the debate

I've got you, you've got me... The situation in the aeronautics industry with regard to customs duties between the European Union and the United States could be summed up in this rhyme. Following on from the decisions taken since 2021, the aeronautics sector is exempt from customs duties when it comes to exports to the United States. It will not have to pay a rate of 15%, as agreed on Sunday between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

For several years now, the American aeronautics industry has clearly understood that it has more to lose than to gain by taxing everything involved in aircraft construction upon entry into its territory, particularly in the civil sector. "There is a balance of power between manufacturers and subcontractors on each side of the Atlantic, and the cost price of an aircraft would be higher if customs duties were applied every time a part crossed the border in one direction or the other. Both Boeing and Airbus would be penalized in the same way," analyzes Didier Bréchemier, senior partner and aeronautics specialist at the strategy consulting firm Roland Berger.

Let's imagine several scenarios that illustrate this interdependence well. The world of aircraft manufacturers is dominated by a duopoly made up of Boeing and Airbus, when it comes to aircraft with more than 100 seats. With customs duties at 15%, a