TORONTO/MONTREAL — US President Donald Trump has threatened to stop Canadian private jet maker Bombardier from selling its aircraft in the United States unless the company begins manufacturing them on American soil.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said Bombardier would no longer be allowed to sell its aircraft in the US, claiming the company’s products were not good enough.
“If they want our Market, they must build here,” Trump said, accusing Canada of treating the United States like a “piggybank”.
The latest threat comes as trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa intensify, with Canada preparing to impose a new round of retaliatory tariffs on US goods.
The White House did not immediately provide details on how the administration would seek to restrict Bombardier aircraft sales in the US. The company’s jets have been approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration and comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
A US aerospace analyst said he did not expect Bombardier customers to cancel orders and questioned whether the US government could prevent the aircraft from being sold.
Richard Aboulafia, managing director of aerospace consultancy AeroDynamic Advisory, noted that most Bombardier business jets use US-made engines supplied by Honeywell Aerospace and GE Aerospace.
The aerospace industry has so far largely avoided the disruption seen in other sectors during Trump’s tariff campaign. The sector is also closely integrated between the US and Canada, with companies on both sides of the border relying on cross-border suppliers and production.
Bombardier, which is headquartered in Montreal, has about 3,500 employees in the US and works with around 2,800 American suppliers. It operates factories and service centres across the country and is expanding its US service network.
The company is also producing wings for its flagship Global 8000 business jet in Texas.
Bombardier said it spends more than $2.5 billion annually with US suppliers and plans to continue investing in its employees, customers and communities across the country.
The company also operates a defence division with a facility in Kansas, where Canadian-built aircraft are prepared for specialised missions. Around half of the 5,100 aircraft operated by Bombardier customers are based in the US.
Trump had previously targeted Bombardier in January, saying the US would decertify its Global Express business jets and threatening a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian-made aircraft. The measures did not materialise, while Canada subsequently certified several Gulfstream aircraft.
Bombardier reported in July that its quarterly revenue rose 6 per cent year-on-year to $2.15 billion, supported by strong demand for aftermarket services.
Source: Reuters
