US President Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Sales
Trump threatens a 50% tariff on Canadian aircraft, citing refusal to certify US Gulfstream jets.
President Donald Trump on Thursday escalated tensions in the ongoing US-Canada trade dispute by threatening to impose a 50% tariff on any aircraft sold to the United States. The latest threat came after Canada refused to certify jets from Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream Aerospace, marking a significant expansion of the trade conflict between the two neighbouring nations.
Trump made the announcement via social media, reiterating his aggressive trade stance. Over the past week, he had already threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Canada proceeded with a planned trade deal with China. However, the 50% aircraft tariff threat is more targeted, focusing specifically on the aviation sector, which is critical to both nations’ economies.
In his post, Trump warned that if the certification issue is not “immediately corrected”, the United States would respond by decertifying all Canadian aircraft, including those from Canada’s largest aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier. “If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50% tariff on any and all aircraft sold into the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
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Industry and government representatives have yet to respond publicly. Spokespeople for Bombardier and Canada’s transport minister did not immediately comment on the threat, leaving questions about potential economic and diplomatic repercussions. Analysts warn that such tariffs could further strain trade relations and affect the broader North American aerospace industry.
The announcement adds to an already complex web of trade tensions between the United States and Canada, with potential ripple effects on supply chains, airline operations, and cross-border investments. It also underscores the ongoing unpredictability of US trade policy under Trump’s administration, raising concerns among global markets and trading partners.
As the dispute develops, both governments will need to navigate the balance between protecting domestic industries and maintaining strong bilateral trade relations, particularly in sectors as high-profile and economically significant as aerospace.
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