U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a retreat from his threat to block Bombardier aircraft sales in the United States, citing the Canadian maker’s Kansas presence but announcing no policy change.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said in Bombardier’s Oct. 15 release that the Wichita operation includes the company’s U.S. headquarters, Bombardier Defense and 1,500 Kansans. The release put Bombardier’s U.S. workforce at about 3,500.
At an Oct. 19 rally near Wichita, Trump said Sen. Roger Marshall had called him about what he described as “a certain air company.” Trump said he had thought of Bombardier as Canadian before learning it had a presence in Kansas, adding, “We’re not hurting them if they’re in Kansas.” In an interview with Wichita station KWCH, Trump identified Bombardier by name and said, “we’re gonna take good care of them.” He gave no details of what help might involve.
Trump’s Sept. 7 social media post demanded that Bombardier stop selling aircraft in the United States unless it built them there. Reuters reported that the administration had not imposed a sales ban. Bombardier shares rose 4% Tuesday after Trump’s remarks, Reuters reported.
On Oct. 15, Bombardier said its roughly $50 million Wichita investment covers a new learning center, an expanded wheel and tire shop and additional planned capabilities. Its Sept. 7 statement counted about 2,800 U.S. supplier companies across 47 states. That footprint suggests a sales restriction could affect U.S. workers and suppliers as well as Bombardier; such effects remain hypothetical because no ban had taken effect, Reuters reported.
Trump made a separate aircraft-related threat in January, when he said he was decertifying Canadian-made aircraft and threatened a 50% tariff on aircraft sold in the United States. Bombardier is scheduled to report third-quarter results Nov. 5.
