In a sharp escalation of trade tensions with Canada, President Donald Trump has threatened to decertify all Canadian-made aircraft and impose a 50% tariff on them, retaliating against Canada’s refusal to certify American-made Gulfstream jets. The move, announced via Truth Social on Thursday, specifically targets Bombardier’s Global Express business jets and all aircraft manufactured in Canada, raising alarms about potential disruptions to U.S. air travel and further straining bilateral relations.
Trump’s threat centers on Canada’s certification process for Gulfstream Aerospace products, which he claims is effectively blocking their sale in Canada. In his social media post, he stated that if the situation is not ‘immediately corrected,’ he will charge a 50% tariff on any aircraft sold into the United States from Canada. This declaration has sparked confusion and concern within the aviation industry, as no U.S. president has ever directly decertified aircraft; such decisions are typically left to the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety experts.
The immediate impact could be significant, particularly for U.S. airlines that rely on Canadian-made aircraft for regional flights. Bombardier’s CRJ regional jets, used by carriers like United, Delta, and American for feeder services, account for over 2,600 daily flights and 175,000 passenger seats. Grounding these planes would cause widespread chaos, especially in rural areas where regional airlines are the sole source of air service. Industry analysts warn that using aircraft safety as a trade war tool is unprecedented and risky.
Bombardier, based in Quebec, has responded cautiously, noting that thousands of private and civilian jets built in Canada fly in the U.S. daily and hoping for a quick resolution to avoid impact on air traffic. The company employs about 3,000 people in the U.S. and is expanding its operations there. The U.S. and Canada have a history of aerospace trade disputes, including previous duties on Bombardier’s CSeries jets during Trump’s first administration, which were later overturned.
This latest threat follows a series of trade spats since Trump returned to office last year. Just days earlier, he warned of a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if the country strikes a deal with China. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has emphasized respecting sovereignty, and at the World Economic Forum, he criticized economic coercion by larger nations, though not naming Trump directly. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned Carney that such comments could affect the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Legal experts question Trump’s authority to decertify aircraft without an executive order or FAA involvement, and the White House has not clarified the mechanisms. The potential decertification could also affect helicopters, as Canada is a major supplier of civilian and medical evacuation helicopters. The FAA has not commented, leaving uncertainty about implementation.
If enforced, the tariffs and decertification would not only disrupt aviation but also signal a deeper rift in U.S.-Canada trade relations. The interdependence of the aerospace industries, highlighted by a 1980 WTO agreement to eliminate tariffs on civil aircraft, underscores the potential fallout. Observers are watching for Canada’s response and whether Trump will follow through, as the situation remains fluid with implications for global trade dynamics.
