MENA Newswire, WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said the United States is moving to “decertify” aircraft made in Canada and threatened a 50% tariff on Canadian-made aircraft sold into the U.S., linking the steps to what he described as delays by Canadian regulators in certifying several business jets made by Gulfstream.
Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform late Thursday, naming Bombardier’s Global Express jets and adding that the action would apply to “all aircraft made in Canada” until Canada certifies Gulfstream’s G500, G600, G700 and G800 models. He also said a 50% tariff would be applied to “any and all aircraft” sold into the United States from Canada if the issue is not “immediately corrected.”
The statement drew immediate attention because aircraft certification and airworthiness approvals are typically handled by aviation regulators. A White House official said Trump was not suggesting that Canadian-built aircraft already operating in the United States would be decertified, focusing the dispute on future approvals and deliveries.
Bombardier said it was monitoring developments and was in contact with the Canadian government after Trump’s statement. The company has a significant presence in the United States, including employees and suppliers tied to its business jet programs and aftermarket services.
Certification dispute and tariff threat
Canadian officials said they were working to resolve the dispute. Industry Minister Melanie Joly said certification should not be politicized and that Canada’s transport minister was in contact with U.S. officials. The public comments framed the issue as a regulatory process rather than a trade policy decision by Ottawa.
The market reaction was swift. Bombardier shares fell sharply in early trading on Friday after Trump’s post, before trimming losses later in the session. The company is a major Canadian aerospace manufacturer, and business jets are a key part of its commercial operations.
The dispute also touches a broader footprint of Canadian-built aircraft in the United States. More than 5,400 Canadian-built aircraft are registered in the U.S., including about 150 Bombardier Global Express jets, according to figures cited in public reports. Canadian-made aircraft are widely used across business aviation and regional airline fleets.
Impact on North American aerospace ties
Bombardier-built aircraft have been used for years in U.S. regional airline operations, including variants of the CRJ series operated by carriers flying under major airline brands. Canadian production is also part of the North American supply chain for other aircraft types, reflecting long-standing cross-border integration in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance.
Labor groups also weighed in, warning that using certification as leverage in a trade dispute could affect jobs tied to the North American aerospace industry. Bombardier has said it employs thousands of people in the United States and works with a broad supplier base, alongside its Canadian manufacturing footprint.
The episode unfolded amid broader U.S.-Canada trade frictions during Trump’s second term, with aviation now joining sectors that have previously faced tariff disputes. The White House and Canadian ministries have not announced a formal timeline for any regulatory or trade actions beyond Trump’s post, and Canadian officials have said talks are continuing.