The IAM Union Canada has expressed serious concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to decertify Canadian-made aircraft, including Bombardier’s Global Express, and impose a 50% tariff on exports to the U.S.
In a letter to PM Mark Carney, the IAM warns these actions would harm aerospace workers, manufacturers, airlines, and passengers on both sides of the border. Canada and the U.S. share deeply integrated aerospace industries, with cross-border production, supply chains, and certification systems. Bombardier alone employs 3,000 U.S. workers and works with nearly 2,800 American suppliers.
The union stresses that aircraft certification is based on safety, not politics. Revoking certifications without a safety basis would cause legal challenges, industry disruption, and operational chaos. Over 2,100 Canadian-built Bombardier aircraft operate in the U.S., supporting regional airlines and daily travel, meaning disruptions could lead to grounded planes, flight cancellations, and higher costs for passengers.
The IAM urges Canada to defend certification integrity, protect workers, engage U.S. officials, and prepare all necessary legal and diplomatic responses. Canada’s aerospace sector is a strategic national asset, and safety must never be used as a political tool.
Click here to read the full IAM Union Canada letter to PM Mark Carney.