In a significant escalation of trade tensions, former President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on all Canadian-manufactured aircraft and decertify Bombardier Global Express business jets from U.S. airspace. The ultimatum, issued via Truth Social on Thursday, demands that Canadian regulators immediately certify several Gulfstream aircraft models produced by U.S.-based General Dynamics.
Trump’s declaration specifically targets Canada’s certification process for Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 jets, despite these models having already received certification from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The threat emerges amidst broader diplomatic strains following Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent comments questioning the U.S.-led international order.
Aviation experts warn that implementing these measures would severely disrupt U.S. air travel networks. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which operate extensive fleets of Canadian-built regional aircraft, would face immediate operational challenges. Industry analysts project that over 5,400 Canadian-manufactured aircraft currently registered in the United States—including narrow-body jets, regional aircraft, and helicopters—could be affected.
Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director of AeroDynamic Advisory, emphasized the dangerous precedent of mixing aviation safety with political disputes: ‘Mixing safety issues with politics and grievances is an incredibly bad idea. This approach could provide other nations with a powerful weapon to use against U.S. aviation interests worldwide.’
The potential grounding of Canadian regional jets would disproportionately impact rural communities and conservative-leaning states that depend on regional air connectivity. Many smaller airports would lose essential air service, while major hubs would suffer from reduced connecting traffic.
Bombardier, which maintains significant U.S. operations including multiple service centers and a growing defense facility in Wichita, Kansas, expressed concern through an official statement: ‘We have taken note of the post from the President and are in contact with the Canadian government. We hope this is quickly resolved to avoid significant impact to air traffic and the flying public.’
Legal experts question the feasibility of Trump’s threat, noting that the FAA typically requires safety-related justifications for decertification decisions rather than economic or political considerations. The certification process conventionally follows international standards where the designing country’s aviation authority (in this case, the FAA for Gulfstream aircraft) provides primary validation, with other nations typically accepting these determinations despite retaining rights to request additional data.
This development occurs against the backdrop of Canada’s efforts to diversify its trade relationships beyond the United States, which currently receives approximately 70% of Canadian exports under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement framework.