U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated trade tensions with Canada by pledging to revoke certification for all Canadian-made aeroplanes. He coupled this with warnings of 50% tariffs unless U.S.-built Gulfstream jets gain swift approval north of the border.
The announcement specifically named Bombardier’s Quebec-produced Global Express business jet but swept in “all aircraft made in Canada,” per his Thursday Truth Social post.
“Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process,” Trump wrote. “If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50% Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America.”
This move deepens a year-long rift since Trump’s inauguration. Hours earlier, Prime Minister Mark Carney demanded respect for Canadian sovereignty amid reports of Alberta separatists meeting U.S. officials. Days before, Trump threatened 100% tariffs should Canada strike a China trade deal.
Trump’s legal power to decertify remains unclear, with no executive order issued. Such calls typically fall to Federal Aviation Administration experts. “Using aircraft safety as a tool in a trade war is just an incredibly bad idea,” said Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory.
Bombardier, with 3,000 U.S. employees and 2,800 American suppliers, stressed its jets’ daily role in U.S. skies. “Thousands of private and civilian jets built in Canada fly in the U.S. every day,” the firm said. “We hope this is quickly resolved to avoid a significant impact to air traffic and the flying public.”
The policy appears aimed at new private jets, sparing older models. “(There is) no indication from folks we’ve talked to that this would impact passenger aviation like Bombardiers that were manufactured 10+ years ago,” an industry source noted.
CRJ regional jets from Bombardier underpin feeder flights for United, Delta and American Airlines. Cirium counts 648 in U.S. service, flying 2,600+ routes daily with 175,000 seats—vital for 64% of rural airports. Grounding them would spark chaos, Aboulafia warned. “It would be a transportation disaster.”
“I think this is aimed at business (jets),” another source said. “I’m well aware of what the (social media) post said, that it was all aircraft. But I would be really shocked if the intent was to ground the fleet that serves so many of the president’s supporters.”
Canada stayed measured. “When the president reacts, tweets, says something, we always take good note. We read, we listen and we don’t panic,” Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told CBC, voicing hope for resolution.
“Canada’s aviation industry is safe and reliable. We will stand behind it,” Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon wrote. Questions linger over helicopters, key Canadian exports including medical units.