Trump Threatens Aircraft Tariffs as U.S.-Canada Jet Certification Dispute Escalates

U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified trade tensions with Canada by announcing the decertification of Bombardier Global Express business jets and threatening steep new tariffs on Canadian-made aircraft. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump warned that the United States would impose a 50% import tariff on all aircraft from Canada unless Canadian authorities immediately certify several Gulfstream business jets produced by U.S. manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace.

Trump accused Canada of effectively blocking Gulfstream products through its certification process, specifically citing the Gulfstream G500, G600, G700, and G800 jets. While the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency certified the Gulfstream G800 in April, Transport Canada has not yet completed its validation. The Canadian agency, which oversees aircraft certification, did not immediately comment on the matter.

The announcement has created uncertainty across the aviation sector. It remains unclear which aircraft would be affected by potential tariffs beyond Bombardier’s Global Express line, including whether Airbus A220 commercial jets assembled in Canada could be targeted. According to FlightRadar24, more than 400 Canadian-built aircraft were operating to and from U.S. airports early Friday, highlighting the potential scale of disruption.

Industry data provider Cirium reported that around 150 Bombardier Global Express jets are currently registered in the United States, operated by 115 different owners. Bombardier, Gulfstream’s parent company General Dynamics, and the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not respond to immediate requests for comment.

Questions have also emerged over Trump’s authority to decertify aircraft, as certification decisions are typically made by the FAA based on safety standards, not trade disputes. The FAA declined to comment, and it remains uncertain whether existing certifications could legally be revoked for economic reasons or how such a move would affect U.S.-based aircraft operators.

The dispute unfolds amid broader U.S.-Canada trade tensions, with Carney recently criticizing U.S. trade policy and urging Canada to diversify exports away from its largest trading partner. The situation adds further strain to the global aviation certification system, which relies on mutual trust between regulators to ensure aircraft safety and market access.