Former US President Donald Trump has warned Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier that it will be barred from selling its jets in the United States unless the company relocates its manufacturing operations to American soil.
The stark warning, issued on Mr Trump's Truth Social platform on Monday, comes amidst escalating trade tensions between the two neighbouring nations. It was delivered just hours before Canada was poised to implement retaliatory tariffs on approximately $20 billion (£14.7 billion) worth of US goods.
In his post, Mr Trump stated: "NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a 'piggybank'."
Bombardier, which is headquartered in Montreal and ranks among Canada's largest companies, responded by emphasising its existing significant presence in the United States. The company highlighted that it employs thousands of American workers and maintains valued partnerships with US firms.
Despite Mr Trump's threat, the exact mechanism by which he would seek to block Bombardier's business in the US remains unclear. The company already operates a factory in Wichita, Kansas, which specialises in building special mission military planes and employs 3,500 American staff.
Beyond Kansas, Bombardier also maintains operational sites across several other US states, including Texas, Arizona, Florida, Connecticut, Illinois, Delaware, California, Washington D.C., and New Jersey. Approximately half of Bombardier's entire fleet, an estimated 5,100 aircraft, is operated by customers based in the US.
In its statement on Monday, Bombardier did not directly address Mr Trump's specific threat. Instead, it reiterated that its US operations "create tens of thousands of US jobs through the company's growing American footprint." The statement added: "Bombardier values its great partnership with American companies and its US employees. Our plan is to continue to invest in our people, our customers and the communities in which we operate across the country."
According to the company's website, Bombardier's jets are manufactured at facilities located in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company also confirmed that its operations comply with the North American free trade agreement, known as CUSMA in Canada and USMCA in the US, which was signed by Mr Trump during his first presidential term.
Bombardier holds significant economic importance for Canada, having contributed C$7.4 billion ($5.4 billion; £4 billion) to the country's GDP in 2024, according to a report commissioned by the company. It is also one of the largest employers within Quebec's manufacturing sector.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to defend Bombardier, describing the company as "a source of pride" for her province and "a flagship of our economy." She confirmed that she had contacted Bombardier CEO Éric Martel to offer her government's full support.
Regarding Mr Trump's threat, Ms Fréchette wrote: "I will not respond to provocation with provocation. Quebec will not allow anyone to dictate where our companies must produce in order to access a market."
The latest escalation follows the collapse of trade talks between Canada and the US late last month, after which Canada withdrew from the negotiating table. Subsequently, the US imposed new 50% tariffs on a variety of Canadian goods.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused the Trump administration of introducing last-minute terms that were "unfair" and "uneconomic." US officials, conversely, alleged that Mr Carney refused to sign a deal for political reasons, citing Mr Trump's unpopularity in Canada – an accusation Mr Carney has denied. The BBC has reached out to Prime Minister Carney's office for comment.
