US-Canada tariff war: Trump warns Bombardier to build in US or lose market

Donald Trump said Bombardier would be shut out of the US market unless it builds aircraft in America. The threat sharpens the tariff standoff with Canada and raises fresh questions over cross-border aerospace trade.Trump threatens to block Bombardier jets in US amid Canada tariff war. (Reuters)US President Donald Trump has threatened to shut Canadian private jet maker Bombardier out of the US market unless the company manufactures its aircraft in the United States, escalating tensions with Ottawa amid an ongoing tariff dispute.In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said Bombardier would no longer be allowed to sell its aircraft in the US, while also criticising the quality of its products.“NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!” Trump wrote, adding that if the company wanted access to the American market, it “must build here” and stop treating the US like a “piggybank”.Trump's remarks come as Washington and Ottawa remain locked in a widening trade confrontation. Canada is preparing to impose a fresh round of retaliatory tariffs on US goods on Tuesday, adding to tensions triggered by Trump's broader tariff policies. The White House did not immediately explain how the administration would enforce Trump's threat or whether it could prevent Bombardier from delivering jets that have already been approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration.Bombardier aircraft are also covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the North American trade pact that Trump helped put in place during his first term. US aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia told Reuters that he did not expect Bombardier customers to cancel orders because of Trump's remarks and questioned whether the president could actually prevent the jets from being sold in the US.He noted that most Bombardier business jets are powered by engines made in the US by Honeywell Aerospace and GE Aerospace, underscoring the deep integration between the American and Canadian aerospace industries.Unlike several other sectors affected by the tariff dispute, aerospace has so far largely avoided major disruption, with the movement of aircraft and parts continuing without tariffs. According to the US Aerospace Industries Association, the country's aerospace and defence sector recorded a $109.2 billion trade surplus, while exports rose 25% year-on-year in 2025.The industry, much like the US automobile sector, relies heavily on cross-border supply chains and production networks.Montreal-based Bombardier, a rival of US business jet maker Gulfstream Aerospace, already has a substantial presence in the United States. It employs about 3,500 people in the country and works with around 2,800 US suppliers. The company also operates factories and service centres across the US and is adding a sixth service centre.Bombardier manufactures wings for its flagship Global 8000 business jet in Texas. Its defence division also operates a facility in Kansas, where Canadian-built aircraft are prepared for specialised missions.The US is a particularly important market for Bombardier, with about half of the 5,100 aircraft operated by its customers located in the country.Bombardier did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Trump has previously targeted the Canadian planemaker. In January, he said the US would decertify Bombardier Global Express business jets and threatened 50% tariffs on aircraft made in Canada unless Canada's aviation regulator certified several Gulfstream aircraft. Neither the threatened decertification nor the tariffs materialised. Canada subsequently certified several Gulfstream planes the following month.Bombardier reported in July that its quarterly revenue increased 6% year-on-year to $2.15 billion, helped by strong demand for aftermarket services.The latest threat adds another flashpoint to the increasingly strained US-Canada trade relationship, as both countries weigh further tariff measures and pressure mounts on businesses caught between the two markets.- EndsWith inputs from ReutersPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Sep 8, 2026 04:34 IST