International economic relations are nuanced and multifaceted, extending far beyond simplistic perceptions of conflict. Collaborative efforts like the joint European development of Airbus demonstrate how nations can strategically partner in high-technology industries. Unlike the United States, where aerospace innovation relies primarily on private sector investment, European governments actively support and fund aerospace research and manufacturing.

There is another problem American manufacturers must face: when foreign countries do not allow the sales of American products in their markets. Sorta hard to compete when we are not allowed to compete.

Throughout history, strategic economic manipulation has posed significant challenges to global trade. Nations have employed tactics like predatory pricing to undermine domestic industries, as exemplified by China’s approach to steel and aluminum production. By flooding markets with artificially low-priced metals, foreign producers can effectively dismantle local manufacturing capabilities. Once domestic production ceases, these countries can then leverage their market dominance, potentially dictating prices and availability during critical national needs, such as aerospace manufacturing. This economic strategy transforms a seemingly competitive market into a potential strategic vulnerability, where a single nation can exert substantial economic pressure by controlling essential industrial resources.

National security demands strategic self-sufficiency in critical manufacturing and industrial sectors. We cannot afford to depend on foreign nations, particularly those with potentially competing geopolitical interests, for essential materials like steel used in defense infrastructure. Our national strategy must prioritize domestic production capabilities that ensure we can manufacture key resources independently, maintaining a robust and resilient industrial base that can meet our strategic needs during any potential global disruption.

Are we prepared to risk the collapse of Boeing, potentially leaving the global aviation market entirely dependent on Airbus? The implications of losing a critical American aerospace manufacturer could have far-reaching consequences for our industrial infrastructure, technological innovation, and economic competitiveness.