Trump escalates US-Canada trade tensions, threatens Bombardier jets and 50 percent tariffs over aircraft certification dispute

US President Donald Trump escalated tensions with Canada on Thursday (January 29) by threatening to slap a 50 percent tariff on Canadian-made aircraft and to target Bombardier jets with regulatory retaliation, accusing Ottawa of unfairly blocking certification of US-built planes and igniting a fresh front in the cross-border trade war.

Trump made the threat on social media on Thursday(January 29), accusing Canada of wrongfully denying certification for US-made Gulfstream jets. Trump said the US would decertify Canadian-made aircraft, including jets produced by Bombardier, unless Canada approves Gulfstream jets.

He warned the US would impose a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian aircraft unless the issue is “immediately corrected.”


Bombardier said it is in contact with the federal government, reaffirmed its FAA certification and US investments, and urged a quick resolution to avoid disrupting air traffic. Bombardier and Gulfstream are longtime rivals, competing head-to-head in the large-cabin, long-range business jet market cited by Trump.

The models include the Gulfstream G500 and G600 already in service, along with the newer G700 and G800 flagship jets, while Montreal-based Bombardier builds its Global series and ranks among Canada’s largest aerospace employers.

Already certified in both Canada and the US, Bombardier’s Global 6500, 7500 and 8000 compete directly with Gulfstream’s long-range jets in the same market segment.

Aircraft certification governs whether planes can be sold, registered and operated, with delays or refusals creating a competitive setback for manufacturers.

The US military also depends on Bombardier aircraft, operating a fleet of modified Global Express jets, known as BACN aircraft or the Air Force E-11A, with one currently deployed in the Middle East.