MONTREAL — Experts are casting doubt on U.S. President Donald Trump’s ability to ban new Canadian-made aircraft from American skies in a move that could have big implications for airlines and travellers on both sides of the border.
Former Canadian Transportation Agency member Jean-Denis Pelletier says regulatory authority for plane certification in the U.S. rests with the Federal Aviation Administration, and encouraged the sector to stay calm in the face of the latest White House warning.
On Thursday evening, Trump singled out Bombardier Inc. in a threat to decertify and tariff Canadian-made aircraft, marking the latest escalation of trade tensions between the two countries.
He alleged in a Truth Social post that Canada has refused to certify four types of business jets made by Bombardier rival Gulfstream, based in Georgia.
Several analysts note that clarifications by the U.S. administration suggest that only new aircraft would be grounded rather than those already in service south of the border, a walk-back confirmed to The Canadian Press by a White House official.
Experts say the U.S. aviation industry would be hurt by tariffs on Canadian aerospace, given the large number of American components in planes assembled in Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2026.
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Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press
