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Just days after Bombardier announced it was taking over a major aerospace operation in Mississauga and bringing roughly 750 workers into its workforce, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to shut the door on the company’s aircraft in the American market.

The threat could have significant implications for Mississauga, where Bombardier has a major manufacturing presence and is in the process of expanding its local footprint. It could ultimately become a question of where the aircraft are made and what will happen to local workers.

Trump took aim at the Canadian aircraft manufacturer Monday (Sept. 7) in a post on Truth Social, declaring: “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! Their products aren’t good enough!”

He then added: “If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’”

Trump’s comments came as the latest escalation in the ongoing trade fight between Canada and the United States. He accused Canada of blocking U.S. companies, including Gulfstream Aerospace, from doing business in Canada and argued Bombardier relies too heavily on the American market.

“Over 50% of their revenue comes from the United States,” Trump wrote.

For Bombardier, that is a serious threat as the U.S. makes up about half of its customer base.

The company released a statement late Monday saying it already has a large footprint in the U.S. and is responsible for “tens of thousands” of American jobs and will continue to expand its operations south of the border.

“Bombardier aircraft are built with American-made components such as engines, avionics and many more key systems provided by great American companies,” the statement reads. “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.”

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Still, for Mississauga, the timing of Trump’s comments seems deliberate.

On Sept. 1, Bombardier announced an agreement to acquire the assets of MHI Canada Aerospace, a 270,000-square-foot aerospace manufacturing operation near Pearson International Airport.

The deal will bring approximately 750 employees into Bombardier and bring previously outsourced manufacturing capabilities under the company’s control.

READ MORE: 750 Mississauga aerospace workers are joining Bombardier in major local takeover

The Mississauga operation manufactures wings, centre-fuselage sections and flight-control components for Bombardier business jets. The acquisition is expected to close later this year, subject to regulatory approvals. This is in addition to Bombardier’s existing major Mississauga manufacturing footprint.

The company’s Global Manufacturing Centre near Pearson is where its ultra-long-range Global 7500 and Global 8000 business jets are assembled.

So what does Trump’s threat actually mean for those workers?

For now, it is unclear.

Trump did not provide details Monday on how a ban on Bombardier sales would be imposed.

Aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia told Reuters the proposed restrictions could be difficult to enforce, pointing out that Bombardier’s aircraft meet U.S. Federal Aviation Administration standards and that the company is deeply integrated into the American aerospace industry. Bombardier also uses U.S.-made engines and other components, employs about 3,500 people south of the border and has numerous suppliers, facilities and service operations there.

It also isn’t the first time Trump has targeted Bombardier.

In January, he threatened to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian-made aircraft and said he could move to decertify certain Bombardier Global Express jets, amid his complaints about Canada’s treatment of U.S. rival Gulfstream.

Those threats ultimately did not materialize, and Canada subsequently certified several Gulfstream aircraft.

Still, Monday’s comments put a new question over a company that has been investing heavily in its Canadian manufacturing operations.

The Mississauga acquisition was presented by Bombardier as a way to strengthen its in-house aerospace capabilities, increase control over its supply chain and improve its ability to meet growing demand. Now it is facing pressure from the U.S. president to move more manufacturing south of the border if it wants unrestricted access to the American market.

 

 

 


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