Newport News Shipbuilding requests supplier base assess steel tariff impact

Newport News Shipbuilding has asked its supplier base to assess what impact, if any, tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will have on future business, according to the company's president.

NNS President Jennifer Boykin told reporters April 10 at the Navy League's annual Sea-Air-Space symposium she discussed the tariffs last month with both the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition and the Submarine Industrial Base Coalition.

"They're all assessing that right now . . . I think that's something that all of the companies are going to be sort of grappling with and really trying to understand as we move forward," she said. "Relative to us, we only buy American steel and we have long-term contracts in place."

Boykin said the company's suppliers do not see any immediate issue but it is something they will continue to watch.

Inside Defense reported last month President Trump ordered 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent on aluminum imports because of national security concerns. There are temporary exemptions for Canada and Mexico and potential exemptions for other U.S. allies on a case-by-case basis.