Airbus CEO urges not to engage in trade wars with the United States

Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, warned about the impact that a trade escalation with the United States would have on the aeronautics industry and called for avoiding retaliatory tariffs. “It is an industry that today operates without tariffs,” he emphasized during the Airbus Summit 2025, while urging other countries not to follow the protectionist path of Donald Trump's administration.

“It's important for the rest of the world not to discuss tariffs, to remain calm and not to increase the possibility of tariffs beyond the United States,” the CEO of the largest global commercial aircraft manufacturer noted.

Unlike other sectors, commercial aviation depends on a highly globalized supply chain. Aircraft, like automobiles, are assembled from components produced in a variety of countries, from engines to electronics to airframes. A tariff in the industry will not only drive up production costs, but will also affect the competitiveness of companies, forcing them to seek alternatives that are not always viable in terms of cost or quality.

The commercial aviation market remains highly concentrated. According to the consulting firm Mordor Intelligence, five companies control 90.62% of the industry, with Airbus in first position, followed by ART, Embraer, Boeing and United Aircraft Corporation.

The importance of the United States in the sector is not minor. According to an analysis by Mordor Intelligence, this country retains the most dynamic market globally, “due to increasing levels of air transport and the growing number of commercial aircraft orders from major airlines, which is also boosting prospects at the regional level”.

Airbus has 20 manufacturing sites around the world, where different parts of the aircraft are produced and assembled, which are then sent to final assembly lines where the entire aircraft is manufactured. These plants depend on thousands of suppliers around the world, which produce around 80% of the aircraft before they reach the final facilities.

Airbus' call comes against a backdrop of growing trade tensions, where economies such as those in Europe, Canada and even China have responded to protectionist measures by the United States with tariffs on key products. This adds pressure to the company's supply chain, which is facing increased demand for aircraft.