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President Donald Trump threatened on social media to decertify all Canadian-made aircraft and impose a 50% tariff on any aircraft imported into America until Canada certifies U.S.-made Gulfstream aircraft.
While all Canadian aircraft were included, President Trump specifically targeted the Bombardier Global Express, according to CNN. This comes after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada opposed the tariffs being imposed by the U.S. to further President Donald Trump's aim of acquiring Greenland. There have other disagreements between the two political figures since Trump took office last year.
The Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 jets are the ones specifically mentioned in President Trump's post. The FAA granted Gulfstream a limited-time exemption from certain fuel system icing rules for the G700 and G800 in 2024. The exemption is granted with certain conditions and limitations (Candamp;L). Before Dec. 31, 2026, the G700 and G800 must be shown to fully comply with specific icing-related amendments before an airworthiness certificate will be granted. Before June 31, 2026 Gulfstream must complete certification testing for the planes, using a type design test configuration and certification test method approved by the FAA and demonstrating that the fuel system is capable of operating and functioning properly under conditions where ice may form in the fuel system of the G700 or G800. Before Sept. 31, 2026 the company is to submit service instructions for in-service retrofits for all the design changes and/or operating and maintenance limitations required to meet the Candamp;L no. 1 to the FAA for approval.
It is unprecedented for a US President to decertify an aircraft through the FAA, and there has been no executive order on any Canadian aircraft tariffs. A White House official told Reuters that aircraft currently in operation will not be decertified. Airline officials have expressed concerns that if the U.S. decertifies aircraft for economic reasons, other countries will do the same and threaten the aviation industry as a whole."Thousands of private and civilian jets built in Canada fly in the U.S. every day," said Bombardier in a statement on Thursday. "We hope this is quickly resolved to avoid a significant impact to air traffic and the flying public."
"Mixing safety issues with politics and grievances is an incredibly bad idea," said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of U.S. aerospace management consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory, according to Reuters.
The FAA had no advance notice of the statement and has not issued any directive affecting operations, according to AirGuide. Both the NBAA and GAMA told GlobalAir.com on Friday morning that they were working to get more information before saying anything.
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