Washington DC: United States President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Canadian business jet manufacturer Bombardier on Monday, declaring that the Montreal-based aerospace company will no longer be permitted to sell its private planes in the United States unless it relocates manufacturing operations south of the border. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump attacked the quality of Bombardier’s aircraft while accusing the Canadian firm of exploiting access to American consumers, stating that the company must build locally rather than treating the United States like a piggy bank.
The broadside comes as bilateral economic tensions between Washington and Ottawa reach a critical flashpoint, marked by expanding cross-border tariff disputes. In his post, Trump claimed that more than 50 per cent of Bombardier’s revenue originates from American buyers and airports, contrasting this with allegations that Canadian regulators have unfairly restricted domestic market access for American competitors such as Gulfstream Aerospace. The outburst preceded Canada’s implementation of retaliatory counter-tariffs on American imports, intensifying a wider trade confrontation between the neighbouring allies.
Industry analysts and aviation experts quickly questioned the feasibility and legal basis of Trump’s proposed sales blockade. Bombardier’s business aircraft are already certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration and operate under the protections of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Aviation consultants pointed out that Bombardier’s executive jets rely heavily on American-made engines supplied by Honeywell and GE Aerospace, making any punitive unilateral ban economically disruptive to domestic suppliers. Unlike the automotive and primary metals sectors, aerospace trade had previously remained largely insulated from escalating cross-border duties.
Responding to the threat, Bombardier reiterated its extensive industrial footprint across the United States, which includes 3,500 American employees and an annual procurement spend exceeding 2.5 billion dollars with 2,800 domestic suppliers. The company already conducts specialized manufacturing and assembly work in the US, producing wings for its flagship Global 8000 jet in Texas, operating a defence-modification facility in Kansas, and preparing to open its sixth American service centre. While Trump previously threatened 50 per cent tariffs and decertification on Canadian-built business jets earlier this year, Bombardier has maintained steady financial performance, reporting second-quarter revenues of 2.15 billion dollars backed by robust aftermarket services.
