U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to block Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier from selling its planes in the United States unless the company expands manufacturing south of the border, opening another front in the escalating Canada-U.S. trade dispute.
Trump targeted the Montreal-based business jet manufacturer in a social media post Monday, saying Bombardier should manufacture its aircraft in the United States if it wants continued access to the American market.
“NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!” Trump wrote, while criticizing the company’s products and accusing Canada of taking advantage of the U.S.
Bombardier responded by emphasizing the scale of its existing American operations and supply chain. The company said it works with approximately 2,800 suppliers across 47 U.S. states and supports tens of thousands of American jobs, both directly and indirectly.
Major components for Bombardier aircraft are already produced in the United States. Wings for its business jets are manufactured in Texas, while flight-control components are produced near Los Angeles.
Bombardier said the U.S. aerospace industry benefits significantly from its operations and exports, adding that it intends to continue investing in its American employees, customers and communities.
The company also has a major presence in Wichita, Kansas, where it employs more than 1,000 people.
Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said he contacted the Trump administration to ensure the president was aware of Bombardier’s economic contribution to his state and the importance of its Wichita operations.
Moran said he would continue working to protect Bombardier’s manufacturing presence in Kansas and the jobs connected to its local supply chain.
Trump’s threat comes amid a sharp deterioration in Canada-U.S. trade relations following the collapse of bilateral negotiations on Aug. 21. Washington has since announced additional tariffs and threatened further trade measures, while Canada responded Tuesday by imposing retaliatory tariffs on approximately US$20 billion worth of American goods.
Bombardier has also become increasingly relevant to Canada’s defence procurement strategy.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government announced plans to purchase six airborne early-warning aircraft from Sweden’s Saab and Bombardier rather than selecting competing U.S.-made aircraft.
The Saab system is based on Bombardier’s Global 6500 business jet platform, supporting Canadian aerospace manufacturing. The aircraft also contain approximately 20 per cent U.S. content.
The alternatives included Boeing’s U.S.-built E-7A Wedgetail and the Aeris X from American defence contractor L3Harris.
Ottawa is separately reviewing its planned purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, while Saab has proposed manufacturing its Gripen fighter aircraft in Canada.
Bombardier is one of Canada’s best-known industrial companies. Founded in Quebec by inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier, the company began producing snow-going vehicles in the 1930s before expanding into trains and commercial aviation.
Following a major restructuring and the sale of several divisions, Bombardier now concentrates primarily on private business jets, while maintaining a substantial manufacturing and supply-chain presence in both Canada and the United States.
