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Amy Wilder

The National Business Aviation Association welcomed the return to zero-for-zero tariffs on civil aircraft and parts under a new U.S.-European Union trade framework that takes effect September 1. The group noted the Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade restores balance for an industry long supported by the 1979 Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft.
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said, “The agreement marks a vital step toward reestablishing a fair and balanced trade environment. It supports continued innovation in aerospace, strengthens the United States’ global leadership in aviation safety, and helps sustain the significant trade surplus that the U.S. aerospace industry has achieved over many decades.”
A <a href="https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/joint-statement-united-states-european-union-framework-agreement-reciprocal-fair-and-balanced-trade-2025-08-21_en">joint U.S.-EU statement</a> published on August 21 by the European Commission’s directorate general for trade and economic security discussed the framework, underscoring its broader significance. According to the document, the framework is intended as “a concrete demonstration of our commitment to fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade and investment,” with provisions designed to expand market access and enhance economic security.&nbsp;
Eliminating duties on U.S. industrial goods entering Europe,&nbsp;the agreement also&nbsp;provides expanded market access for U.S. agriculture and seafood. In return, the U.S. commits to limit tariffs on EU goods to no more than 15%, while confirming that as of September 1, aircraft and aircraft parts—as well as pharmaceuticals and certain raw materials—will be subject only to the most-favored-nation rate.
Beyond tariff relief, the framework lays out plans for deeper cooperation across energy, technology, and defense. By the end of 2028, the EU intends to procure $750 billion in U.S. energy products and at least $40 billion in U.S.-made AI chips, while also pledging increased purchases of U.S. defense equipment. Both sides commit to aligning standards, reducing non-tariff barriers, and reinforcing supply chain resilience. The statement further highlights commitments to joint action on labor rights, digital trade rules, intellectual property protection, and sustainability regulations. Officials described the framework as a foundation that can be expanded in future negotiations to strengthen economic security and competitiveness on both sides of the Atlantic.
NBAA indicated that the 1979 agreement has contributed to a $104 billion U.S. trade surplus in aerospace and supported 1.8 million American jobs. The association urged the administration to extend the zero-for-zero approach to all signatories of the 1979 pact.
This latest announcement <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-07-28/us-eu-trade-deal-spares-aerospace-tariffs">follows on July’s U.S.-EU trade deal</a>, which exempted civil aerospace products from a 15% tariff imposed on other European goods as of August 1. At the time, AIN’s Charles Alcock noted that Dassault Falcon 6X business jets produced in France would have been subject to tariffs without the exemption. He also cited concerns that the framework’s terms might be subject to change, with analysts warning that tariffs could be raised again depending on future policy decisions.
Industry organizations on both sides of the Atlantic have consistently backed a zero-tariff approach. In late July, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association commended U.S. and EU officials for “working together to support the civil aerospace supply chain.” The Aerospace Industries Association has also stressed the importance of lowering trade barriers with European partners to maintain competitiveness and expand opportunities for American aerospace and defense manufacturers.
European groups likewise have pointed to the importance of stability. The Aerospace, Security, and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) described the 1979 agreement as a foundation for predictable market access, emphasizing the need to balance cooperation with the safeguarding of European defense procurement.
ASD focused its July comments on defense procurement, stressing that decisions must be evaluated for their long-term consequences. Warning against creating critical dependencies, the group emphasizes that only by investing in Europe’s defense industry can the region safeguard its security and preserve freedom of action.
The framework agreement announced on August 21 builds on those commitments. For the aerospace industry, the immediate outcome is clarity: aircraft and parts will remain free of tariffs, a result NBAA and other associations argue is essential for global competitiveness.

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