**US Tariffs May Harm Defense Industry, Complicate International Cooperation**
The United States’ recent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump could have a significant impact on the country’s defense industry. According to Politico, these tariffs may complicate international cooperation and increase the cost of manufacturing military equipment.
Trump unveiled a list of “reciprocal tariffs” on April 2, imposing a baseline 10% duty on all countries, including Ukraine. Major trade partners like the EU will face even higher rates. Russia and Belarus were excluded from this list. These tariffs may jeopardize joint military projects, such as producing the F-35 fighter jet, air defense systems, and constructing nuclear submarines.
Experts warn that these tariffs could lead to shortages of supplies, retaliatory actions by allies, and increased costs for vital supplies. Bill Greenwalt, a former Pentagon acquisition official, told Politico that “some potentially vital supplies are either going to cost a whole heck of a lot more than what they did, or they’re just not going to be available.”
**Impact on Global Defense Cooperation**
The Pentagon has spent decades building a global network of suppliers and companies. Without defense exemptions, the administration may negate this work, delaying the production of US-made weapons for the country and other buyers.
European officials are also concerned about the impact of these tariffs. “We count on the US for the best equipment,” said a European official. “European industrial capacity has greatly improved, and we want to be security providers, not just consumers.” This means investing more in European production to reduce dependence on American spare parts and materials.
**US Defense Budget May Increase**
Senator Mark Kelly, a senior Senate Armed Services member, highlighted the complexity of defense production and noted that due to the new tariffs, the products of the US military industry may repeatedly be subject to duties during the production process. This could lead to increased costs for the US Defense Department and make it more expensive to maintain the same type of force.
**Ukraine’s Economy May Suffer**
Ukrainian officials are also concerned about the impact of these tariffs on their economy. Ukraine’s exports to the US in 2024 amounted to $874 million, including cast iron and pipes. However, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said that the Trump administration’s latest tariffs are likely to be “difficult, but not critical” for Ukraine’s economy.
**US-Russia Relations Remain Tense**
Tensions between the US and Russia remain high, with both sides continuing private talks on the possibility of an unconditional ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine had not provided Washington with a list of specific infrastructure targets that would constitute a ceasefire breach if attacked by Russia.
**European Countries Continue to Support Ukraine**
Despite the tariffs, European countries continue to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The Danish government approved the 25th package of military assistance to Ukraine, worth $970 million, which will support Ukraine from 2025 until 2027. NATO‘s command and control structures could be used to deploy a “reassurance force” to Ukraine.
In conclusion, the US tariffs imposed by Trump may have a significant impact on the country’s defense industry, complicate international cooperation, and increase costs for vital supplies. European countries continue to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, but tensions between the US and Russia remain high.