U.S. President Donald Trump says he’ll ban sales of planes made by Montreal-based Bombardier in the United States unless the company builds its products there.
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.
“Their products aren’t good enough! Over 50% of their revenue comes from the United States — They live off American Buyers, American Companies, American Airports, and American Service — All while Canada blocks our GREAT American Banks, and Companies, throughout the U.S.A.,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“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.
Trump had previously taken aim at the Canadian aviation giant Bombardier, saying in January that the United States would decertify Bombardier’s Global Express and all other aircraft made in Canada, and impose new 50 percent tariffs on all Canadian aircraft, until Canadian regulators certified several plane models made by the U.S.-based Gulfstream. Canada certified Gulfstream’s planes in February, and Washington didn’t go through with its threat.
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.”
He said in a Sept. 6 post that Canada’s “dollar imbalance with the U.S.” is “unacceptable.”
“It has been that way for years - but no longer!” Trump added, without elaborating on what actions he might take.
The Canadian dollar is currently valued at around 72 cents compared to the U.S. dollar, which raises the cost of U.S. imports for Canadians, but makes Canadian exports and tourism more attractive to Americans. Trump has previously said he is opposed to a stronger U.S. dollar, as it makes U.S. exports less competitive compared to countries with weaker currencies.
The last time theloonie was at parity with the U.S. dollar was in 2013, after years of higher commodity prices helped boost Canadian exports and strengthen its currency.
On Sept. 6, Trump also posted an image of himself appearing to knock Carney over during a game of hockey and saying, “Get up, governor.” Trump has repeatedly said Canada should join the United States as a state, and has said Carney and his predecessor former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would be the “governor” of that state.
On Sept. 7, Trump also posted an image of North America, with every country covered by the American flag.
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