President Donald Trump has made another tariff threat directed at Canada, which he accuses of refusing to certify jets made by U.S. aerospace company Gulfstream.
In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on Canada if it does not reverse course. The president also indicated the United States would decertify Canadian aircraft until the American-made jets are certified.
“Based on the fact that Canada has wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 Jets, one of the greatest, most technologically advanced airplanes ever made, we are hereby decertifying their Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada, until such time as Gulfstream, a Great American Company, is fully certified, as it should have been many years ago,” he said.
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“Further, Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process,” he added. “If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50% Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America.”
The message is the latest instance of Trump’s growing feud with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The two leaders exchanged words last week when they appeared at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland.
Carney took a veiled shot at Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs as economic leverage against smaller countries, prompting Trump to respond.
“They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” the president said during his Davos speech.
Carney then fired back, claiming Canada does not need to fully rely on the U.S.
“Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” the prime minister said after returning home from Davos.
After their back-and-forth exchanges, Trump threatened to levy a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods and products if Carney decided to enter into a broader free trade deal with China. Before the Davos summit, Canada agreed to lower its tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in exchange for China reducing its tariffs on Canadian agricultural products. Carney denied he was seeking a broader deal.
The prime minister has since spoken with his American counterpart over the phone. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during the conversation, Carney “aggressively” walked back his prior comments.
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It remains to be seen if Trump follows through on his latest two tariff threats against Canada. He has not provided a time frame for either.
Trump previously vowed to tariff any European countries opposed to a possible U.S. acquisition of Greenland by the start of February, but he abandoned the idea for now after having a productive conversation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the Davos summit. Last week, Trump teased that specific details about a possible Greenland deal will be coming soon.
