Trump’s Jet‑Stop Threat: Bombardier Must Build in the US

Tue Sep 08 2026 09:12:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former US president Trump declares he will halt Canadian jet sales in America unless Bombardier moves manufacturing stateside, sparking a new trade standoff.

Trump’s latest trade move targets Bombardier, a Montreal‑based jet maker that sells 5,100 aircraft to U.S. customers. He warned the company to stop selling in America unless it builds jets in the United States. The threat comes amid a growing trade war where Canada is set to impose tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. goods. Bombardier’s sites in the U.S., including a Kansas factory, employ thousands of American workers. Canadian leaders say the decision will hurt local jobs, and Quebec’s premier has pledged to support the company.

Trump’s Jet‑Stop Threat: Bombardier Must Build in the US

A fresh flare‑up in the US‑Canada trade war unfolded when former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, demanding the Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier stop selling in the United States unless it builds its planes there.

The message, “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a 'piggybank',” came just hours before Canada was poised to impose tariffs on $20 billion of U.S. goods.

Bombardier operates factories in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, employing thousands of American workers, yet its U.S. jets are assembled in Canada and Mexico. The company highlighted its American workforce and pledge to keep investing in U.S. markets.

Quebec’s premier, Christine Fréchette, defended the company as a “source of pride” and promised government backing, warning that Quebec would not let its business be dictated by foreign politics.

Trump’s threat underscores the fragility of cross‑border trade ties, especially for tech‑heavy manufacturing where production location can be a point of political leverage.

The situation remains fluid, with no clear mechanism yet for how Trump could legally block Bombardier’s U.S. sales—a decision that could widen a trade war that already sees rising tariffs and strained diplomatic ties.