ANT Industries, a precision aerospace manufacturer based in Atherstone, has welcomed the news that UK-made aircraft parts — including Rolls-Royce engines — will be exempt from newly announced U.S. tariffs.
The breakthrough announcement came earlier this month from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, confirming that UK aerospace exports to the United States, including critical engine components, will remain tariff-free. The decision is part of broader negotiations between the UK and U.S. that now apply a reciprocal 10% tariff rate to most traded goods — with aerospace, a GBP 40 billion sector, notably exempt.
For ANT Industries, a tier-one supplier to global aerospace and gas turbine programmes, the news couldn’t come at a better time. “This is a strong lift for British engineering” said Shaun Rowley, Managing Director of ANT Industries. “We’re a UK manufacturer supporting world-class programmes, and this agreement ensures we stay competitive on a global stage, especially with strategic customers like Rolls-Royce.”
Operating from a 28,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility, ANT Industries produces mission-critical components for over 20 different aero engine platforms. The company’s capabilities span turning, milling, grinding, and assembly, with particular expertise in complex materials such as titanium and nimonic alloys — metals used extensively in jet engine manufacture.
Rowley believes the new trade framework will provide the certainty the sector needs to invest and grow: “We’re already experiencing record growth in 2025, and the tariff exemption gives us the confidence to continue investing in people, technology, and capacity. But perhaps most importantly, it reassures our international partners that the UK is still a reliable, high-quality source of aerospace excellence.
The exemption also comes at a pivotal moment for transatlantic aerospace cooperation. British Airways recently confirmed an order for 32 Boeing 787-10 aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce engines — a contract that underscores the intertwined nature of UK and U.S. aerospace supply chains.
With over 45 years of heritage and a growing international footprint, ANT Industries is keen to keep flying higher. As Rowley puts it: “The global aerospace sector is competitive, complex, and constantly evolving — but with the right people, partnerships, and policies in place, we’re well-positioned to lead the next chapter of British manufacturing success.”