Transport Canada Certifies Gulfstream G500/G600 Jets Amid Tariff Threat

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) has certified two Gulfstream business jet models, the G500 and G600, following a period of heightened trade tension with the United States. The certification, officially recorded on February 15, 2026, comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian aircraft over perceived delays in the approval process for the American-made jets.

This development places the technical process of aircraft certification at the center of a political dispute, highlighting the intense competition between U.S.-based Gulfstream Aerospace and Canada's Bombardier. While the certification resolves the immediate issue for the G500 and G600, it leaves the status of other Gulfstream models uncertain and underscores the potential for political pressure to influence established international aviation safety agreements.

Background of the Trade Dispute

The conflict escalated in January 2026 when Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused Canada of "'wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly' refusing to certify Gulfstream models." He threatened to "decertify" Canadian-made planes and impose a significant 50% tariff on all aircraft sold into the United States from Canada. This echoed a previous trade dispute during his first term, where the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed preliminary duties of nearly 300% on the Bombardier C-Series jets. That tariff was later unanimously overruled by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), but the C-Series program was subsequently sold to Airbus and rebranded as the Airbus A220.

Certification Details and Ongoing Reviews

According to a document from the Government of Canada, the type certificates for the Gulfstream G500 and G600 were granted after a lengthy review. An Aviation International News report noted that the applications for these certifications had been pending for approximately six years. The delay occurred despite a longstanding Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between the U.S. and Canada, which is designed to streamline and reciprocate such approvals.

While the G500 and G600 are now cleared for operation in Canada, two other models, the Gulfstream G700 and G800, remain under review by Transport Canada. The review of these newer models is complicated by a related regulatory action in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Gulfstream a temporary exemption, FAA Exemption No. 21744, for the G700 and G800 related to fuel-icing requirements. This exemption expires at the end of 2026, and Transport Canada is likely evaluating this factor as part of its own independent safety assessment.

Industry Competition and Implications

The dispute is rooted in the fierce competition within the medium and large business jet market, where Bombardier and Gulfstream, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, are primary rivals. The politicization of the certification process is a significant departure from industry norms, where technical and safety evaluations are conducted by independent regulators. The threat to "decertify" Canadian aircraft is particularly unusual, as certification is based on internationally recognized safety standards, not political reciprocity. This situation could create uncertainty for manufacturers and operators who rely on stable, predictable regulatory frameworks for international sales and operations.

What Comes Next

With the G500 and G600 now certified, attention shifts to Transport Canada's review of the G700 and G800 models. The timeline for these approvals remains undisclosed. It is also uncertain whether the tariff threats will be pursued, given that the initial catalyst—the lack of certification for the G500/G600—has been resolved. The aerospace industry will be closely monitoring whether this incident sets a precedent for using regulatory processes as leverage in broader trade negotiations.

Why This Matters

This event signals a trend where national interests and political rhetoric can interfere with the technical, safety-driven process of aircraft certification. It creates significant business uncertainty for global aerospace manufacturers like Bombardier and Gulfstream and could undermine the authority of bilateral safety agreements that have facilitated international aviation trade for decades. For the broader industry, it serves as a case study on the growing intersection of geopolitics and aviation regulation.

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