US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a sweeping 50 per cent tariff on all aircraft sold into the United States from Canada, escalating a trade dispute over aircraft certification and targeting Canadian planemaker Bombardier.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the move would take effect unless Canada immediately certifies business jets made by US aircraft manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace. He accused Ottawa of wrongly and illegally refusing certification for several Gulfstream models.
"Based on the fact that Canada has wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 Jets," Trump wrote, calling the aircraft one of the greatest, most technologically advanced aeroplanes ever made.
Trump said the US would respond by decertifying Bombardier aircraft, including its flagship Global Express jets. "We are hereby decertifying their Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada, until such time as Gulfstream, a Great American Company, is fully certified," he said.
The US President also alleged that Canada was effectively blocking Gulfstream sales in its domestic market. "Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process," Trump wrote, adding that Gulfstream should have been approved "many years ago."
Trump warned that failure to resolve the issue promptly would trigger punitive trade action. "If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50 per cent Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America," he said.
Canada is home to major aircraft manufacturing operations led by Bombardier, while Gulfstream is a key player in the US business jet market.
The latest tariff threat follows reports that the Trump administration hosted representatives of an Albertan separatist movement seeking independence from Canada. Ottawa has repeatedly rejected any notion of Canada breaking apart, particularly against the backdrop of Trump’s past comments about the country becoming the 51st US state. Alberta is Canada's main energy-producing province.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expects the US administration to respect Canadian sovereignty.
"We expect the US administration to respect Canadian sovereignty. I'm always clear in my conversations with President Trump to that effect," Carney said.
Trump has increasingly used tariffs as a pressure tactic to advance his trade demands. On Thursday, he signed an executive order that would impose tariffs on goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba.
Source: ANI