President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a blunt ultimatum to Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier: build in the United States or lose access to the American market.
“NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.'”
The statement arrives amid a sharp deterioration in U.S.-Canada trade relations, with Ottawa set to impose retaliatory tariffs on a broad range of American goods starting Tuesday. Canada announced roughly $20 billion in levies on more than 700 U.S. products on Aug. 25, a package designed to mirror the scale of Trump’s recent 50% tariffs on Canadian wine, cement, hockey sticks and other goods.
Bombardier did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The latest flare-up follows what U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described as a collapse in trade negotiations. Speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Lutnick accused the Canadians of having “blew up” a nearly complete trade deal “for political reasons only.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney offered a cool response, indicating his country would return to the table “when the Americans are ready.”
The dispute has escalated quickly. Trump’s announcement on Bombardier signals that the administration is willing to target major Canadian industrial players directly, potentially forcing companies to choose between relocating production or losing access to the lucrative U.S. market.
Bombardier, known for its business jets and regional aircraft, has significant operations in North America but is headquartered in Montreal. Any requirement to shift manufacturing across the border would mark a major strategic shift for the company, which has long benefited from Canada’s aerospace supply chain and government support.
The president’s comments also underscore a broader pattern in his trade policy: pressuring foreign firms to invest in American manufacturing as a condition for market access. Similar demands have been made of companies in the tech, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors during his term.
Trade experts say the Bombardier threat could have wide implications. If enforced, it would not only affect Bombardier’s sales but could also send a signal to other Canadian exporters about the risks of relying on the U.S. market amid ongoing tariff disputes.
The timing is especially fraught. Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, set to take effect Tuesday, are expected to hit a wide swath of American exports, from agricultural products to consumer goods. The measures were crafted as a proportional response to the White House’s own tariff actions, which were announced after trade talks broke down in late August.
Lutnick’s comments, however, place the blame squarely on Ottawa. His characterization of the failed talks suggests the administration sees Canada’s stance as unreasonable, even as Carney’s government frames its position as defensive.
For Bombardier, the immediate stakes are clear. The U.S. is the world’s largest business jet market, and losing access would be a heavy blow to the company’s revenues. Whether Trump follows through with a formal ban or uses the threat as leverage in broader negotiations remains to be seen.
Neither the White House nor Bombardier has released additional details about possible implementation, and it is unclear what legal or regulatory mechanisms would be used to block sales. The president’s Truth Social post did not specify a timeline or exceptions for existing orders.
As the Tuesday tariff deadline approaches, the atmosphere remains tense. With both sides dug in, the near-term outlook for U.S.-Canada trade appears uncertain, and Bombardier has become the latest flashpoint in the dispute.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/07/trump-bombardier-cant-sell-in-us-unless-canada-aerospace-giant-builds-there.html
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