{"id":17908,"date":"2018-03-05T18:32:55","date_gmt":"2018-03-05T18:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/05\/lockheed-ceo-plays-down-impact-of-trumps-steel-tariff\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:34:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:34:37","slug":"lockheed-ceo-plays-down-impact-of-trumps-steel-tariff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2018\/03\/05\/lockheed-ceo-plays-down-impact-of-trumps-steel-tariff\/","title":{"rendered":"Lockheed CEO plays down impact of Trump\u2019s steel tariff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Lockheed Martin\u2019s chief executive downplayed the impact of wide-ranging global tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the United States, telling reporters Monday that she was still studying what the decision would mean for the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, President Donald Trump announced plans to set a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports. On Monday, he tweeted that the policy could be reversed for Canadian and Mexican exports if the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, is reworked to be more favorable to the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hewson said that, at this point, she hadn\u2019t heard any backlash from Lockheed\u2019s international supply chain or customer base. The company, which relies on sales to foreign allies, is wary the issue could jostle those relationships or lead to marketplace retaliation, particularly if Trump forgoes exceptions for certain U.S. allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are a lot of questions about the specifics and nervousness that goes with that because it can go in any number of different ways,\u201d said Lockheed\u2019s Robert Rangel, senior vice president of government relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockheed\u2019s relationship with the president has been complicated. Before coming into office, Trump rebuked the cost of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and positioned Boeing\u2019s Super Hornet as a possible alternative<\/a>. Once he assumed the presidency, Trump involved himself directly in F-35 contract negotiations, having meetings directly with the government\u2019s program head and Hewson to discuss the price of the aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since a deal on the 10th batch of jets was finalized, Trump has eased off the F-35 program, praising the aircraft<\/a> during a September speech at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Meanwhile, Hewson has been effusive in her praise of Trump, calling his criticisms fair<\/a> and crediting him for reducing the price of the aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin, speaks at the Norway F-35 rollout celebration at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, TX, on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2015. Ceremonies were held at the Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility celebrating the rollout of the first F-35A Lightning II for the Norwegian Armed Forces. Marillyn Hewson, in 2014, was named the 21st most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. AFP PHOTO\/LAURA BUCKMAN (Photo credit should read LAURA BUCKMAN\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hewson on Monday struck a similarly conciliatory tone. Asked what advice she would present to Trump on the tarriffs, she sounded a supportive note in favor of the commander in chief\u2019s ongoing economic policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would just say for him to continue what the administration is doing, and that\u2019s focusing on competition and fair trade globally,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important for us as a nation to continue to look at how we can continue to be competitive around the world, but at the same time, importantly, that we are also focused on our strategic partners and allies around the world \u2014 that we can continue to provide the global security solutions that we all need to work together to address the security challenges.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\t