Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Canadian aircraft over Gulfstream certification row

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened severe trade penalties against Canada, alleging that Ottawa has deliberately blocked certification of American-made Gulfstream jets and vowing retaliation through tariffs unless the issue is resolved immediately.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of "wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly" refusing to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 jets, which he hailed as "one of the greatest, most technologically advanced airplanes ever made." In response, he declared that the United States would immediately decertify Bombardier's Global Expresses and all Canadian-made aircraft until Gulfstream, described as a "Great American Company," receives full approval—a step he claimed should have happened years ago. Trump further charged that Canada's certification process is effectively barring Gulfstream sales within the country and warned of a 50 percent tariff on all Canadian aircraft entering the US market if the matter isn't corrected right away.

The outburst prompted swift backlash from Democrats, led by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who condemned Trump's approach as reckless tariff warfare against key allies. Gillibrand recounted a string of recent threats, including 100 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, 25 percent on South Korean imports, and a 10 percent levy on NATO nations unless they cede Greenland to the US. She argued that such moves would devastate New Yorkers dependent on Canadian supplies like fertilizer, electricity, and auto parts, fueling inflation when families are already struggling with high costs. "Working New Yorkers and small businesses are paying the price," Gillibrand stated, estimating that Trump's prior tariffs—such as 35 percent on select Canadian goods and 10 percent on energy and potash—have already added $4,200 annually to household expenses in her state.

A longtime critic of Trump's trade policies, Gillibrand has pushed back since his first term, co-sponsoring the Small Business RELIEF Act last year with 14 senators to refund tariff duties for small firms and joining 206 congressional colleagues in a Supreme Court brief deeming the measures illegal. She vowed to hold Trump accountable for the economic hardship inflicted on her constituents.

The escalating rhetoric highlights frictions in the US-Canada trade partnership, among the world's largest, with intertwined supply chains in energy, manufacturing, and aviation where regulatory disputes over aircraft certification can trigger broad commercial and diplomatic repercussions.

(Inputs from IANS)