Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has stepped up his pressure on Canadian aerospace company Bombardier, warning that the private jet manufacturer could lose access to the American market unless it begins producing aircraft in the United States.
Trump made the remarks Monday in a post on Truth Social, where he criticised Bombardier’s products and said the company should manufacture in America if it wanted to continue selling to US customers.
The warning comes as tensions between Washington and Ottawa intensify over trade. Canada is preparing to impose a new round of retaliatory tariffs on US goods, adding another layer to an already strained economic relationship.
Bombardier already has a major US presence
Trump’s demand comes despite Bombardier’s substantial operations in the United States.
The Montreal-based company employs around 3,500 people in the US and works with approximately 2,800 American suppliers. It also operates manufacturing and service facilities across the country.
Bombardier is currently expanding its US service network with another facility and manufactures wings for its Global 8000 business jet in Texas.
The company said it spends more than $2.5 billion each year with US suppliers, highlighting the extent to which its business is tied to the American economy.
Around half of the roughly 5,100 aircraft operated by Bombardier customers are based in the United States, making the US market particularly important to the company.
Experts question whether sales could actually be stopped
Trump’s announcement has raised questions about how such a restriction could be implemented.
Bombardier aircraft sold in the United States have already received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and meet the requirements of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
Aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia said he did not expect customers to abandon Bombardier orders simply because of Trump’s comments. He also questioned whether the administration could realistically prevent the aircraft from being sold.
Another complication is the highly integrated nature of the North American aerospace industry. Bombardier’s aircraft rely on US-made engines supplied by companies including Honeywell Aerospace and GE Aerospace, meaning a restriction on Canadian-built aircraft could also affect American suppliers.
Aerospace industry deeply connected across borders
Unlike some other sectors caught up in Trump’s tariff policies, aerospace has so far largely avoided major disruptions to the movement of aircraft and components.
The US aerospace and defence industry recorded a $109.2 billion trade surplus, according to the Aerospace Industries Association, with exports rising 25% year-on-year in 2025.
Industry analysts have repeatedly pointed to the close integration between US and Canadian aerospace manufacturing. Components, engines and other systems frequently cross the border before an aircraft reaches its final customer.
Bombardier’s American operations are therefore not limited to sales and maintenance. Its US footprint extends into manufacturing, supply chains and defence-related activities.
Bombardier maintains defence operations in America
The company also has a defence business in the United States. At its Kansas facility, Canadian-built aircraft are prepared for special-mission roles.
Bombardier’s presence in the US has therefore grown well beyond its traditional private-jet business, making the company’s relationship with American suppliers and customers a significant part of its global operations.
In a statement following Trump’s comments, Bombardier said it planned to continue investing in its employees, customers and communities throughout the United States.
Trump has targeted Bombardier before
This is not the first time Bombardier has found itself at the centre of a dispute involving the Trump administration.
In January, Trump said the US would withdraw certification for Bombardier Global Express business jets and threatened a 50% tariff on Canadian-made aircraft. The proposed measures were linked to a dispute over certification of aircraft manufactured by US-based Gulfstream.
Those steps ultimately did not take effect. Canada later certified several Gulfstream aircraft.
The latest comments come at a particularly sensitive moment in US-Canada trade relations, with Ottawa preparing additional countermeasures against Washington.
Bombardier reports stronger revenue
Despite the trade uncertainty, Bombardier reported continued growth in its business earlier this year.
The company said quarterly revenue increased 6% year-on-year to $2.15 billion, supported in part by demand for aftermarket services.
The latest threat from Washington could nevertheless create fresh uncertainty for the business-jet manufacturer, particularly if the US administration moves beyond rhetoric and attempts to restrict aircraft deliveries.
For now, the key question is whether Trump’s warning will lead to a formal policy change — and how such a move would affect the deeply interconnected US-Canadian aerospace supply chain.
