The customs programme proposed by US President Donald Trump threatens to disrupt global supply chains that the Pentagon has spent decades building. If implemented, the policy will increase the cost of American weapons and make it more difficult for the US and its allies to counter China. These concerns were raised by diplomats, legislators, government officials, and defence industry experts.
Trump’s approach of prioritising domestic production may push international partners to seek alternative sources of military cooperation. This could severely impact the US arms industry, which provides weapons to much of the world. Washington has long benefited from stable and predictable defence partnerships, but this shift could undermine trust among allies.
Trump presents his tariff policy as a major economic reform aimed at reducing trade imbalances and boosting American industry. However, his protectionist approach risks harming the very industrial power he claims to strengthen. The White House has justified the plan by stating that the US must reduce reliance on imported key resources. However, the Pentagon has spent years developing a global network of suppliers, which now faces potential tariffs. Without exemptions for the defence sector, the policy could cause delays in weapon production and limit availability for both the US military and international buyers.
Experts warn that these tariffs could trigger retaliation from US allies. Bill Greenwalt, a former Pentagon official responsible for weapons procurement, warned that there will be shortages and price hikes. Some critical materials may become too expensive, while others may disappear from the market altogether. The tariffs could reach up to 20 percent on imports from the European Union and 10 percent on goods from the United Kingdom and Australia.
Such measures could also weaken joint defence projects, such as the F-35 fighter programme, which involves 20 nations. These collaborations have allowed participating countries to manufacture essential components while ensuring shared defence capabilities. Missile and air defence systems developed with Norway and Israel could also suffer setbacks.
These agreements are vital for the security of both Europe and the Indo-Pacific, where Western nations are working to counter threats from an increasingly aggressive Russia and a rapidly modernising China. Trump’s tariffs, however, now put these long-standing partnerships at serious risk.
Despite economic concerns, Trump insisted on Thursday that his tariff plan is “going very well.” However, financial markets have reacted negatively, and global leaders have expressed fears of an economic downturn. French President Emmanuel Macron has already called for the European Union to suspend investments in the US in response to these trade policies.
