Trump Threatens 50 Percent Tariffs, Decertification of Canadian Aircraft Over Canada Not Certifying Gulfstream Models

Trump says that Canada has not yet certified Gulfstream Aerospace’s 500, 600, 700, and 800 models.

A Bombardier employee works on a Challenger jet at their manufacturing facilities in Dorval, Que., on Jan. 15, 2026. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is decertifying the Canadian-made Bombardier Global Express and “all Aircraft made in Canada” in response to what he describes as Canada’s refusal to certify several models of U.S.-made Gulfstream jets.

Trump added that Canada must “immediately” certify all Gulfstream aircraft or else he will also impose 50 percent tariffs on any Canadian aircraft sold in the United States.

“We are hereby decertifying their Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada, until such time as Gulfstream, a Great American Company, is fully certified, as it should have been many years ago,” Trump wrote in a Jan. 29 post on Truth Social.

“Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process. 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 added.

Before aircraft are certified and may be legally used or sold in Canada, they must pass safety checks carried out by Transport Canada. Likewise, the United States certifies aircraft for American use and sale via the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In his post, Trump says that Canada has not yet certified Gulfstream Aerospace’s 500, 600, 700, and 800 models.

The G500 and G600 were certified by the FAA in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and have been internationally flown and sold since that time, while the G700 was certified by the FAA and European regulators in the spring of 2024. The newer model G800 received FAA and European certification in April of last year.

It is unclear which of these models have completed Transport Canada certification.

More than 400 Canadian-manufactured aircraft were flying to and from American airports as of about 8 p.m. EST on Jan. 29, according to an X post from FlightRadar24.

The Bombardier Global 8000 business aircraft, which reaches a top speed of 1,173 kilometres per hour, was issued a type certificate by Transport Canada this past November and subsequently certified by the FAA in December.

Bombardier said in a statement that it has “taken note” of the U.S. president’s comment and that it is in touch with the Canadian government. The Montreal-based company added that it hopes the issue is resolved quickly “to avoid a significant impact to air traffic and the flying public.”

“Bombardier is an international company that employs more than 3,000 people in the U.S. across 9 major facilities, and creates thousands of U.S. jobs through 2,800 suppliers,” the company said late on Jan. 29.

“Our aircraft, facilities and technicians are fully certified to FAA standards and renowned around the world. We are actively investing in expanding our U.S. operations, including a recent announcement in Fort Wayne, Indiana.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers also criticized Trump’s move, saying manufacturing and service for Bombardier also employs around 3,000 workers in the U.S. and 2,800 U.S.-based suppliers and would cause “serious disruption” in both Canada and the United States.

The Epoch Times contacted Transport Canada, Bombardier, and the prime minister’s office but didn’t immediately hear back.

Canada’s Aerospace Industry

Canada’s aerospace industry, including the manufacture of airplanes, engines, parts, and related equipment, contributed $34 billion to GDP in 2024 and sustained 225,000 jobs, according to the Government of Canada.

The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada also noted that 70 percent of Canada’s aerospace industry revenues are tied to exports, with exports amounting to $26 billion in product shipped to more than 160 nations in 2024.

Bombardier primarily builds business jets and aftermarket services for aircraft, with its last reported revenue amounting to $8.7 billion in 2024. The aerospace manufacturer has about 12,200 Canadian employees, with estimates for 2024 showing about 64 percent of its exports going to the United States.

Bombardier also builds aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

In addition to Bombardier, other Canadian aircraft manufacturers include Airbus and the Bell Textron helicopter manufacturing company located in Quebec, as well as Calgary-based de Havilland and Ontario-based Diamond Aircraft.

US Tariffs

Trump’s latest tariff threat and statement of decertifying Canadian aircraft come in the wake of the American president saying on Jan. 24 that he will impose 100 percent tariffs on Canada if “Canada makes a deal with China.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney signed several memoranda of understanding on security, trade, agriculture, and energy with Beijing during a Jan. 13–17 visit to China that his office said is part of a new “strategic partnership.”

This included a Jan. 16 preliminary agreement-in-principle to cut tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 100 percent to 6.1 percent on 49,000 vehicles in the first year. In return, Ottawa said China will significantly cut retaliatory tariffs it had placed on Canadian agricultural products and seafood.

In response to Trump’s comments about Washington placing potential additional 100 percent tariffs on Canada in the event of an Ottawa-Beijing trade deal, Carney said he is not pursuing a free trade deal with China and said that the deal with Beijing was only about tariff adjustment and closer cooperation.

Relations between Ottawa and Washington soured following a Jan. 20 speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in which Carney said the international rules-based order was experiencing a “rupture” and said great powers are using “economic integration as a weapon and tariffs as leverage,” in an apparent reference to policies of the Trump administration.

In his remarks, Carney also urged middle powers to work more closely together and said that the former system based on American “hegemony” no longer works.

Trump responded to Carney’s remarks at the WEF in his own address on Jan. 21 at the forum, saying Carney “wasn’t so grateful” and should remember Canada only survives due to the United States.

“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” Trump said.

Responding Jan. 22, Carney said: “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.”

Later that same day, Trump announced that he was rescinding his invitation for Carney to join his newly created Board of Peace, which is aimed at reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.

This is a developing story. More updates will be provided as they become available.