President Donald Trump on Thursday (January 29, 2026) threatened Canada with a 50% tariff on any plane offered within the U.S., the most recent salvo in his commerce battle with America’s northern neighbour as his feud with Prime Minister Mark Carney expands.
Mr. Trump’s menace posted on social media got here after he threatened over the weekend to impose a 100% tariff on items imported from Canada if it went ahead with a deliberate commerce cope with China. However Mr. Trump’s menace didn’t include any particulars about when he would impose the import taxes, as Canada had already struck a deal.
In Mr. Trump’s newest menace, the Republican President stated he was retaliating towards Canada for refusing to certify jets from Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream Aerospace.
Mr. Trump stated the U.S., in return, would decertify all Canadian plane, together with planes from its largest plane maker, Bombardier. “If, for any motive, this case just isn’t instantly corrected, I’m going to cost Canada a 50% Tariff on any and all Plane offered into america of America,” Mr. Trump stated in his put up.
Mr. Trump stated he’s “hereby decertifying” the Bombardier International Categorical enterprise jets. There are 150 International Categorical plane in service registered within the U.S., operated by 115 operators, in response to Cirium, the aviation analytics firm.
Bombardier and Gulfstream are head-to-head rivals, with the International collection battling for market share towards Gulfstream’s newest fashions.
Bombardier stated in a press release that it has taken be aware of the president’s put up and is involved with the Canadian authorities. The Montreal-based firm stated its plane are totally licensed to Federal Aviation Administration requirements and it’s increasing U.S operations.
“1000’s of personal and civilian jets inbuilt Canada fly within the U.S. every single day. We hope that is rapidly resolved to keep away from a big affect to air visitors and the flying public,” the corporate stated.
Spokespeople for the Canadian authorities didn’t reply to messages in search of touch upon Thursday (January 29) night.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation administration at McGill College, stated certification is about security and it will be unprecedented to decertify for commerce causes.
“Certification just isn’t trivial. It’s a essential step in getting planes to function safely,” Mr. Gradek stated. “Any person just isn’t selecting on the Gulfstream. Decertification for commerce causes doesn’t occur.” Mr. Gradek stated many Gulfstreams have been licensed for years in Canada.
“That is actually a smokescreen that’s mainly throwing up one other purple flag within the face of Mr. Carney,” Mr. Gradek stated. “That is taking it to the acute. This can be a new salvo within the commerce battle.” The U.S. Commerce Division beforehand put duties on a Bombardier industrial passenger jet in 2017 throughout the first Trump administration, charging that the Canadian firm was promoting the planes in America under price. The U.S. stated then that Bombardier used unfair authorities subsidies to promote jets at artificially low costs.
The U.S. Worldwide Commerce Fee in Washington later dominated that Bombardier didn’t injure U.S. business.
Bombardier has since targeting the enterprise and personal jet market in its International and Challenger households of planes. Each are in style with particular person house owners and companies in addition to fractional jet corporations like NetJets and Flexjet. If Mr. Trump cuts off the U.S. market it will be a significant blow to the Quebec firm.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Mr. Carney on Wednesday (January 28) that his latest public feedback towards U.S. commerce coverage may backfire going into the formal evaluate of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Settlement, the commerce deal that protects Canada from the heaviest impacts of Mr. Trump’s tariffs.
Mr. Carney rejected Mr. Bessent’s competition that he had aggressively walked again his feedback on the World Financial Discussion board throughout a cellphone name with Mr. Trump on Monday (January 26).
Mr. Carney stated he advised Mr. Trump that he meant what he stated in his speech at Davos, and advised him Canada plans to diversify away from america with a dozen new commerce offers.
In Davos on the World Financial Discussion board final week, Mr. Carney condemned financial coercion by nice powers on smaller nations with out mentioning Mr. Trump’s identify. The Prime Minister obtained widespread reward and a spotlight for his remarks, upstaging Mr. Trump on the gathering.
Apart from Bombadier, different main plane producers in Canada embrace De Havilland Plane of Canada, which makes turboprop planes and plane designed for maritime patrols and reconnaissance, and European aerospace big Airbus. Airbus manufactures its single-aisle A220 industrial planes and helicopters in Canada.
Revealed – January 30, 2026 06:28 am IST
