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Aerospace and airline industries warn that US tariffs may put safety at risk.

On Tuesday, groups representing U.S. and global airlines warned that new tariffs on imports of commercial aircraft, jet engine parts and other components could threaten air safety or the supply chain, and have unintended consequences.

After President Donald Trump announced in April sweeping duties against trade partners, the industry is already facing 10% tariffs. The Commerce Department launched an investigation called Section 232 last month to examine the risks imported goods pose to U.S. security. This could lead to even higher tariffs for imported planes, engines, and parts.

In a recent filing, the Aerospace Industries Association (which represents Boeing, Airbus and hundreds of other aerospace companies) urged the Commerce Department to extend the period for public comments on Section 232 from 90 days to 180 days, and not impose any new tariffs during that time.

The group also urged for further consultations with the industry regarding "any Section 232 Tariffs" to ensure that they accurately reflect national safety concerns and don't put supply chain and aviation security at risk.

The AIA highlighted the impact of a fire that occurred at a Pennsylvania aerospace fastener manufacturer in February on production, and the difficulty in finding parts from new suppliers.

The group stated that it could take as long as 10 years to find a new supplier in the country and to ensure they have all of the necessary safety certifications.

Airlines for America warns that tariffs will increase the cost of shipping and plane tickets.

The airlines stated in comments filed with the Commerce Department that "injecting higher costs will weaken our economy and national security, and have a debilitating effect on the domestic commercial aircraft industry's capacity to grow, compete and innovate."

The trade group warned that the tariffs could destabilize the aviation supply chain and lead to more counterfeit parts being sold. They also said the tariffs would have unintended and unexpected consequences.

Airlines and manufacturers are lobbying Trump for a return to the tariff-free regime of the 1979 Civil Aircraft Agreement. The U.S. sector benefited from a $75 billion trade surplus each year. The agreement stipulates that parts must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in order to qualify for tariff-free status. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson, Nia Williams and Chizu Nomiyama)

(source: Reuters)