In a significant escalation of trade tensions between the United States and Canada, President Donald Trump stated on Thursday his intent to decertify all aircraft produced in Canada. This announcement specifically targeted Bombardier's Global Express business jets, which are manufactured in Quebec, while suggesting that the entire category of Canadian-made aircraft would be affected by this action.
Trump justified his position by pointing to Canada's certification process, which he claims effectively blocks the sale of American-made Gulfstream jets within Canadian borders. According to Trump’s post on the social media platform Truth Social, he expressed frustration that Canada is "effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process." He further warned that if this issue does not see immediate rectification, the United States would proceed to levy a 50% tariff on all Canadian aircraft imported into the US.
This latest development represents another chapter in a protracted series of disputes between the neighboring countries since the beginning of Trump's administration last year. Earlier on the same day as Trump's declaration, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly expressed hope that Trump would "respect Canadian sovereignty," following reports that separatist representatives from Alberta had engaged with US officials. Adding to the climate of tension, Trump recently threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it entered into a trade agreement with China.
Despite the president's announcement, the legal authority underpinning the decertification of Canadian aircraft remains ambiguous. As of now, no formal executive order has been issued by the White House to enact tariffs specifically on Canadian aircraft. Moreover, Trump did not delineate the particular procedural mechanisms through which the decertification of these planes would be carried out.
Industry experts suggest that the authority to certify aircraft typically resides with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rather than the executive branch. Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, a consulting firm specializing in aviation, noted that historically no US president has directly decertified aircraft. Instead, the FAA’s aviation safety experts oversee such certifications. Aboulafia emphasized that employing aircraft safety regulations as leverage in trade disputes is a particularly unwise strategy.
The potential grounding of all Canadian-built jets could have pronounced consequences for the United States’ commercial air transport system. Bombardier does not only manufacture high-end business jets like the Global Express; the company is also a significant producer of regional commercial jets vital for feeder routes that link smaller airports to major hubs. Halting operation of these aircraft could severely disrupt flight schedules across the US and might leave rural and less accessible areas without essential air service.
Aboulafia characterized the scenario as a "transportation disaster" if all Canadian-made jets were grounded, highlighting that while focusing only on the Global Express poses a limited risk, widespread grounding would profoundly impact the US air travel infrastructure.
Requests for comment have been directed to the FAA to clarify their position on the matter. The situation remains fluid, and additional updates are anticipated as developments unfold.