Aircraft supplier Howmet may halt orders if hit by Trump tariffs, letter says

Howmet Aerospace, which supplies parts for planes built by Airbus and Boeing, may halt some shipments if they are impacted by tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a letter seen by Reuters.<br/>Pittsburgh-based Howmet said in the letter to customers that it has declared a force majeure event, a legal practice that allows parties to a contract to avoid their obligations if hit by unavoidable and unpredictable external circumstances. "Howmet will be excused from supplying any products or services that are impacted by this declared national emergency and/or the tariff executive order," Howmet wrote in the letter. Howmet is a supplier of critical metal components used across the $150b jetliner industry. Boeing and Airbus did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the letter, which three industry sources said went to multiple firms across the aerospace sector. It appeared to be the first such maneuver by a major aerospace company since the tariff announcement, one of the sources said.<br/>