US Tariff Threat: Will Bombardier Jets Be Decertified Over Gulfstream Dispute?

The global aerospace industry faces new uncertainty. US President Donald Trump threatened major trade action against Canada. This includes a 50% tariff on all Canadian aircraft sold in the United States. The President also threatened to decertify all Canadian-made planes. This move targets Quebec-based manufacturer Bombardier.

This aggressive stance is tied to a certification dispute. President Trump stated the US would decertify Bombardier Global Express jets. This would happen unless Canada’s aviation authority immediately certifies certain jets from American planemaker Gulfstream.

The Certification Conflict

The dispute centers on Gulfstream business jets. The models named are the G500, G600, G700, and G800. The President accused Canada of “wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly” refusing to certify these aircraft. He claims this effectively prohibits their sale in the Canadian market.

In response, the President threatened to decertify the Bombardier Global Express series. This is a direct competitor to Gulfstream’s high-end business jets. The threat also covers "all Aircraft made in Canada."

Aviation Industry Impact

This trade threat has significant ramifications for the aviation sector. The US is the world's largest market for private aviation. More than half of all business jets globally are owned by US individuals.

• Bombardier: The company’s Global Express jets face a major market access risk. The US is their biggest market for private jets.
• US Airlines: Several US airlines operate Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ regional jets. While the threat initially focuses on new planes, the language is broad.
• Supply Chain: The US and Canada share a highly integrated aerospace supply chain. Escalating trade wars could cause collateral damage across this network.

Certification Process Concerns

Experts have raised serious questions about the legality of the threat. Aircraft certification is a safety-driven, technical process. It is traditionally handled by independent bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US.

Decertification would mean an aircraft is not approved to fly in US-controlled airspace. Tying this safety process to political trade retaliation sets a dangerous global precedent. It risks turning aviation safety into a geopolitical bargaining tool.

Historically, the US and Canada have been close aerospace allies. This confrontation represents a major rupture in that relationship. The situation mirrors a past 2017 dispute. Boeing sought a nearly 300% tariff on Bombardier's CSeries (now the Airbus A220). That effort was ultimately overturned by the US International Trade Commission (USITC).

However, the current threat comes directly from the executive branch. This makes the path to a legal resolution less certain. Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has stated the Gulfstream certification process is "well underway." She expressed confidence the situation could be resolved.

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