New York —
President Donald Trump on Thursday dramatically escalated tensions with Canada, declaring that his administration is moving to decertify Canadian-made aircraft and threatening to impose a 50% tariff on planes manufactured north of the US border.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the move was retaliation for what he described as Canada’s refusal to certify US-made Gulfstream business jets, arguing that Ottawa is using regulatory barriers to block American products.
“Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process,” Trump wrote. “If 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.”
Trump specifically mentioned the Global Express, a flagship business jet produced by Quebec-based Bombardier, but went further by stating that the action would apply to all Canadian-manufactured aircraft.
Legal authority unclear, aviation experts alarmed
Despite the sweeping language, no executive order or formal regulatory action has been released, and it remains unclear whether the president has the legal authority to decertify aircraft unilaterally.
Aircraft certification in the United States is handled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an independent regulatory body staffed by aviation safety specialists. Historically, presidents have not directly intervened in certification decisions.
“No president has ever decertified aircraft by fiat,” said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory. “Using aviation safety as leverage in a trade dispute is unprecedented—and incredibly dangerous.”
The White House has not clarified what legal mechanism, if any, would be used to carry out the threat.
Potential fallout for US airlines and passengers
If Trump’s statement were implemented broadly, the consequences could be severe for the US aviation system.
Bombardier manufactures several aircraft types used extensively by American carriers, including the CRJ series of regional jets, which are the backbone of short-haul feeder routes connecting smaller cities to major airline hubs.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 648 Canadian-built CRJ passenger jets are currently operating in the United States. These aircraft perform more than 2,600 flights every day, offering approximately 175,000 passenger seats daily.
Grounding them would cause immediate schedule disruptions and could eliminate air service entirely for many rural communities. Regional airlines are the sole providers of passenger flights at 64% of US airports, according to the Regional Airline Association.
“This wouldn’t just inconvenience travelers,” Aboulafia warned. “It would be a transportation disaster.”
Airlines monitoring closely, no groundings yet
As of Thursday evening, there were no reports of aircraft being grounded, according to Faye Malarkey Black, CEO of the Regional Airline Association.
Major US airlines—including United, Delta, and American—rely heavily on regional partners that operate CRJ aircraft on their behalf.
Industry insiders believe Trump’s threat may be aimed more narrowly at business jets, particularly Bombardier’s high-end Global Express line, rather than the entire regional fleet.
“I would be shocked if the real intent is to ground planes that serve so many rural communities,” one aviation industry source told CNN, speaking anonymously. “That would hit a lot of the president’s own supporters.”
Broader trade and diplomatic tensions
The aircraft dispute is the latest flashpoint in a widening US–Canada trade confrontation since Trump returned to office last year.
Earlier this week, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa pursued a trade agreement with China. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back against US pressure, saying Washington must “respect Canadian sovereignty” after reports that US officials met with Alberta separatist figures.
Canada is the second-largest trading partner of the United States, and analysts warn that escalating retaliatory measures risk destabilizing one of the world’s most integrated economic relationships.
Unanswered questions remain
Trump’s statement also leaves unresolved questions about scope and definition. It is unclear whether “all aircraft” refers only to fixed-wing planes or also includes helicopters, another sector where Canada is a major supplier.
Canadian-made helicopters are widely used in the US for medical evacuation, search-and-rescue, and law enforcement operations. Any disruption in certification could have implications beyond commercial aviation.
For now, industry leaders, regulators, and airlines are watching closely—hoping the threat remains rhetorical rather than operational.
“If this turns into real policy,” Aboulafia said, “the damage would extend far beyond Canada. It would hit the US aviation system itself.”