US President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on Canadian aircraft, citing certification barriers, as broader trade and diplomatic tensions between Washington and Ottawa continue to deepen.
File image: US President Donald Trump addresses a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence at Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo: X/@WhiteHouse/Videograb)
US President Donald Trump has warned of fresh trade action against Canada, announcing plans to decertify all Canadian-made aircraft and impose a 50 per cent tariff unless American business jets receive approval to operate in Canada.
The warning, issued on Thursday, marks a new escalation in already strained US-Canada relations since Trump returned to office last year.
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the move would apply to aircraft built in Canada, including Bombardier’s Global Express business jet, manufactured in Quebec. He accused Ottawa of using its certification process to block US-made Gulfstream jets from entering the Canadian market.
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“Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process,” wrote the US President. “If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50% Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America.”
The aircraft warning comes amid a broader breakdown in diplomatic and trade ties between Washington and Ottawa.
Earlier in the day, CNN reported that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had urged Trump to “respect Canadian sovereignty” following reports of meetings between Alberta separatists and US officials. The comments added to a growing list of disputes between the two governments.
Trump has also repeatedly threatened Canada with steeper trade penalties over its engagement with China. In recent days, he warned of a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian goods if Ottawa proceeds with deeper economic agreements with Beijing.
Reiterating that stance, Trump again cautioned Carney against strengthening trade ties with China, referring to him as “Governor” in another Truth Social post.
“If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken,” Trump wrote.
He went on to claim that China would “eat Canada alive” if such a deal were pursued, adding that any agreement with Beijing would trigger immediate and sweeping tariffs on Canadian exports to the US.
Trump also criticised Canada for opposing his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system over Greenland, while simultaneously expanding economic cooperation with China.
“Canada is against The Golden Dome being built over Greenland, even though The Golden Dome would protect Canada,” he wrote, adding that Ottawa had instead chosen to do business with Beijing.
The remarks followed Carney’s recent visit to China, aimed at reviving economic cooperation between the two countries. China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States.
During the visit, Ottawa and Beijing reached an understanding to lower tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural exports and introduce quotas on Chinese electric vehicles entering Canada. The framework could also allow for increased Chinese investment.
It was the first visit by a Canadian leader to China in nearly a decade. Chinese Premier Xi Jinping described the talks as a “turnaround” in bilateral relations, reflecting what both sides called a shifting global environment.
Speaking earlier about the agreement, Carney appeared to contrast Beijing’s approach with Washington’s, describing Canada’s engagement with China as more “predictable” and discussions as “realistic and respectful.”
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