President Donald Trump says he’ll ban sales in America of products made by Canadian aviation giant Bombardier unless the company builds its products in the United States.
His Sept. 7 comment comes a day before Canada’s 15 percent to 50 percent counter-tariffs on nearly US$20 billion worth of American products are set to take effect, in a tit-for-tat response to Washington imposing 50 percent tariffs on about the same amount of Canadian products since Aug. 22.
“They even blocked Gulfstream Aerospace from doing business in Canada — Completely unjust and unfair! That Era is OVER! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank,’” he added, while urging “buy American” and using American airlines and liquor.
Trump had also earlier announced new 50 percent tariffs on Canadian vehicles and auto parts beginning in 2027. Washington has hinted that there may be more counter-measures in response to Canada planning to impose counter-tariffs, first announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Aug. 22.
Bombardier says it has bases and workers all around the United States, and has a “deeply integrated network” in the country.
“Bombardier aircraft create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs through the company’s growing American footprint as well as within its supply chain made up of approximately 2,800 American companies across 47 states,” the company said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.
A spokesperson said that the company has five service centers in the United States, including in Tucson, Ariz., Dallas, Wichita, Kans., Hartford, Con., and Miami, and is directly employing 3,5000 people in the United States. He added that the company is expanding its presence in the United States, including by opening a new service center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
“Bombardier values its great partnership with American companies and its U.S. employees. Our plan is to continue to invest in our people, our customers and the communities in which we operate across the country,” the company said.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said she wouldn’t respond to “provocation with provocation.”
The Epoch Times reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office but didn’t immediately receive a response.
Trade talks between Ottawa and Washington broke down on Aug. 21, with Carney saying the collapse was due to the United States wanting to omit medium- and heavy-duty trucks from tariff exemptions, restrict Canada’s ability to make trade agreements with other countries, and making demands that would restrict Canada’s French-language content requirements.
Members of the U.S. administration have said that Canada’s negotiating team walked away from talks for “political reasons,” and that Canada would have received a beneficial trade deal, disputing that Washington had strict “red-lines” around Canada’s trade deals with other countries and French-language requirement.
Trump also took aim at Canada over the weekend with other posts, including on the exchange rate and calling Carney “governor.”
“It has been that way for years – but no longer!” Trump added, without elaborating on what actions he might take.