Former President Donald Trump issued a stern warning Monday, stating that Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier will be barred from selling its jets in the U.S. unless it establishes manufacturing facilities within the country. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, "If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a 'piggybank.'"
This declaration coincides with an escalating trade conflict between the United States and Canada, occurring just hours before Canada was set to implement retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. goods. The specific mechanisms Trump intends to use to block Bombardier's sales in the U.S. remain unclear.
Bombardier, headquartered in Montreal, already has a presence in the U.S., operating a factory in Kansas that produces specialized military aircraft and employs approximately 3,500 American workers. The company notes that about half of its fleet, totaling 5,100 aircraft, is utilized by customers based in the U.S. Bombardier's global manufacturing operations include facilities in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, and its aircraft are compliant with the North American Free Trade Agreement, now known as CUSMA in Canada and USMCA in the U.S.
The company is a significant contributor to the Canadian economy. A report commissioned by Bombardier indicated the company contributed C$7.4 billion (approximately $5.4 billion USD) to Canada's GDP in 2024 and is a major employer in Quebec's manufacturing sector. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette expressed her support for Bombardier via X, calling it a "source of pride" and "a flagship of our economy." Fréchette stated she has reached out to Bombardier CEO Éric Martel and offered her government's full backing, adding, "I will not respond to provocation with provocation." She further asserted, "Quebec will not allow anyone to dictate where our companies must produce in order to access a market."
Relations between Canada and the U.S. have been strained, with trade talks reportedly collapsing late last month. This breakdown led to the U.S. imposing new tariffs of 50% on various Canadian products. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's office characterized the Trump administration's last-minute terms as "unfair" and "uneconomic," while U.S. officials accused Canada of rejecting the deal for political reasons tied to Trump's perceived unpopularity in Canada, an accusation denied by the Prime Minister's office.