President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Canadian aerospace giant Bombardier, warning that the company will no longer be permitted to sell its aircraft in the United States unless it relocates its manufacturing operations to American soil. The threat was announced via a Truth Social post on Monday, in which Trump declared, “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!” He further asserted that if the company desires access to the US market, it must “build here” and cease treating America like a “piggybank.”
This development intensifies an escalating trade dispute between the two nations and arrives just hours before Canada is scheduled to impose retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of US goods. The BBC has reached out to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office and Bombardier for comment, but responses were not immediately available.
The specifics of how the administration intends to enforce the sales ban remain unclear. Bombardier, headquartered in Montreal, already maintains a manufacturing presence in the United States, operating a facility in Kansas that produces special mission military aircraft and employs approximately 3,500 American workers. According to the company’s website, its jets are manufactured across facilities in Canada, the US, and Mexico, and its products comply with the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as CUSMA in Canada and USMCA in the United States—a deal originally signed by Trump during his first term.
The economic stakes for Canada are significant. Bombardier is one of the country’s largest corporations, contributing C$7.4 billion ($5.4 billion) to the national GDP in 2024, according to a commissioned report. It is also a major employer within Quebec’s manufacturing sector. Approximately half of the company’s 5,100 aircraft fleet is operated by customers based in the United States.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette responded strongly to the President’s comments, describing Bombardier as a “source of pride” and a “flagship of our economy” in a post on X. She confirmed that she has contacted Bombardier CEO Éric Martel to offer her government’s full support. Fréchette emphasized that Quebec would not respond to provocation with provocation, adding, “Quebec will not allow anyone to dictate where our companies must produce in order to access a market.”
Tensions between Washington and Ottawa have surged following the collapse of trade talks late last month. Canada walked away from the negotiating table after accusing the US of presenting last-minute terms that were “unfair” and “uneconomic.” In response, the US imposed new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. US officials have countered that Prime Minister Carney refused to sign a deal for political reasons, allegedly due to Trump’s unpopularity in Canada—an accusation Carney has denied.
Leave a Reply