If you want a free trade success story, look no further than the aerospace and defense industries (A&D) that manufacture civilian, space, and military aircraft.

In 2024, American A&D exports were $139 billion, and imports were $65 billion, resulting in a trade SURPLUS of $74 billion.

More than 100,000 American companies and 2 million workers are part of the aeronautics supply chain.

This U.S. dominance has been made possible thanks to a 1979 free trade agreement in aerospace, which allowed for reciprocal duty free trade in this industry among most of our major trading partners. From then until today, the U.S. trade surplus has grown 20-fold in this industry.

Now, there is talk of suspending these half-century-old agreements as part of the Trump tariff plans. But this would cost – not save – American manufacturing jobs.

The Trump Administration should ensure that any new trade deals retain this successful America First trade policy.