Two senators have urged President Donald Trump to rethink his threat to ban aircraft sales by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier in the United States, reports BritPanorama.
Trump expressed his discontent with Bombardier in a social media post on Monday, stating, “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! Their products aren’t good enough! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’”
This controversy follows the collapse of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations on August 21, which prompted Trump and his administration to impose a series of tariffs and issue strong public statements targeting Canada. In response, Ottawa announced tit-for-tat tariffs on approximately $20 billion in American imports.
In reaction to Trump’s remarks regarding Bombardier, the private jet manufacturer clarified that key components for its aircraft, such as wings and engines, are already produced in the U.S., highlighting its dependence on an American supply chain.
According to Bombardier, the U.S. aerospace sector benefits significantly from trade and exports, contributing to tens of thousands of jobs directly and through a vast supplier network.
The repercussions of Trump’s threats have raised concerns in Kansas, a Republican stronghold that has not lost its Senate representation for a century. Both of the state’s senators have reached out to the White House to discuss the potential economic impact on local jobs.
Senator Jerry Moran emphasized in a social media post that he contacted the Trump administration to ensure the President is aware of Bombardier’s significant role in Kansas. He expressed his commitment to preserving the manufacturer’s presence in the state.
Senator Roger Marshall echoed this sentiment, stating, “I’m going to fight to keep Bombardier’s over 1,200 Kansas jobs. I’ve already taken that concern inside the Oval Office.”
This trade strife emerges as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans for Canada to acquire six airborne early-warning radar aircraft built by Sweden’s Saab in partnership with Bombardier, avoiding American defense contractors. The Saab system utilizes Bombardier’s Global 6500 aircraft platform, which contains 20% U.S.-made components and was preferred over Boeing’s E-7A Wedgetail and L3Harris’s Aeris X.
Canada is also evaluating its intention to purchase U.S. F-35 fighter jets, while Saab has proposed the possibility of manufacturing its Gripen fighter jet domestically within Canada.
