Pilatus Resumes Normal Deliveries to the U.S. After White House Reached Zero-Tariff Aircraft Agreements with Switzerland, South Korea on Friday (Nov. 14)
The deal reestablished open aircraft trade and immediately restarted normal Pilatus shipments to and aftermarket support for American customers.
(United States of America) The U.S. government on Friday, Nov. 14, ended its 39% tariff on aircraft and parts from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and South Korea, restoring all three countries’ participation in the 1979 Civil Aircraft Agreement; the accord allows civil aircraft, engines, and components to move between member nations without additional charges, according to Corporate Jet Investor, and enabled Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft to permanently resume deliveries to the United States.
Photo of a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft landing courtesy of Pilatus Aircraft via AOPA.
Previously, on November 4th, Pilatus announced the first U.S. delivery of its newest turboprop and at that time said it expected to send more aircraft through the end of 2025 to fulfill prior commitments – after deliveries were halted in August – though it did not commit beyond that, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
The zero-tariff agreement clears the way for normal Pilatus deliveries and aftermarket support in the U.S., where Pilatus’s PC-12 and PC-24 are among the most widely used turboprop and light jet models in the business aviation market, per Aerotime.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) applauded the decision. NBAA President Ed Bolen said, “NBAA welcomes the return to zero tariffs for aircraft and parts, which will have a significant positive impact on U.S. leadership in global aerospace safety and innovation. These agreements not only reestablish equitable trade relations with the Republic of Korea and Switzerland but also enable the aviation industry to continue its major contributions to U.S. jobs and the economy.”
According to Aerotime, the new deals mirror the zero-tariff frameworks the U.S. already has with the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. They reinstate the long-standing principle that civil aircraft, along with their engines and component parts, can be traded among participating countries without tariffs — a move that allows manufacturers like Pilatus to resume deliveries to American customers immediately.
