Trump Warns Canadian Bombardier It Can’t Sell In The U.S. Unless It Builds Here

Key Facts

“NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, hours before Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. products were set to take effect on Tuesday, writing “they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’”

Trump also claimed in his post that Canada “blocked” Gulfstream, a subsidiary of Virginia-based General Dynamics, from doing business there, an apparent reference to his allegations in January that Canada was taking too long to certify some of its U.S.-made planes, because it wanted to reserve market share for Bombardier.

At the time, Trump threatened to decertify Bombardier Global Express jets and all aircraft made in Canada and impose a 50% tariff on their jets, but never followed through—it’s unclear how Trump would have decertified the planes as the certification process is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and is based on safety standards, rather than politics and trade policy.

Gulfstream did not need Canada’s sign off to fly its jets there, since the country where they are manufactured is responsible for certifying the planes, and the Federal Aviation Administration had already certified the jets Trump took issue with, though the certification from Transport Canada allowed it to more easily sell its planes to Canadian customers.

Trump’s Bombardier demands—which could potentially draw more business to Bombardier customers, such as Gulfstream— are part of his push to return manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and reduce the U.S. trade deficit with other countries.

Bombardier spokesperson Matthew Nicholls said at the time of publication it would respond shortly to Trump’s threat.

What To Watch For

Canada is imposing a new round of tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on hundreds of U.S. products worth a total of $27.6 billion starting at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. The products span sectors ranging from steel, dairy, appliances, agriculture equipment and more. Canada announced the tariffs in response to 50% tariffs Trump imposed in July on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods, including wine, dairy, cement and furniture. Canada said its retaliatory tariffs are designed to match the U.S. levies “dollar for dollar.”

Key Background

Canada-U.S. relations have become increasingly strained under Trump. In addition to the tariff war, Trump has suggested the U.S. should take over Canada and recently renamed “Lake Ontario” as “Lake America.” Canadian leaders have responded defiantly to Trump. Prime Minister Mark Carney told the Trump administration last week, “stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions,” referring to trade talks. Carney said talks unraveled when the U.S. imposed terms that would cause entire industries to be “gradually wound down in Canada and wiped out.” Canada has also accused the U.S. of trying to weaken French-language requirements for businesses, referring to the U.S.’s objection to requirements designed to promote French-language content on streaming platforms. The most recent round of tariff negotiations that led to the new tariffs imposed by both countries were prompted by the six-year review period for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement, which expires in 2036. The Trump administration did not agree to extend the USMCA in its current form. Trump imposed the most recent round of tariffs under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a Great Depression-era law that allows the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries it believes are discriminating against U.S. goods.

further reading

Canada Imposes 50% Tariffs On Hundreds Of U.S. Products—Doubling Steel And Aluminum Tax (Forbes)

Trump And Canada In Trade ‘War’: How Hockey Sticks, Puzzles And Wigs Played A Role (Forbes)

Canadian Visitors To U.S. Were Up 10% In July—But New Steep Tariffs Threaten Tourism Lift (Forbes)