Bombardier faces Trump threat to block US sales

Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier faced a threat from US President Donald Trump on Monday to stop it selling in the United States, as he complained about what he called unfair trade provisions with Canada.

“No more selling Bombardier in the United States!” Trump wrote in all caps on Truth Social. He said Canada blocks American banks and companies from doing business there and added that if Canadian firms want the US market, “they must build here”.

Trump did not specify how he would impose a sales halt. Bombardier has thousands of aircraft currently operating in US airlines' domestic fleets.

The threat came during a widening tariff dispute between the United States and Canada. In January, Trump threatened to decertify Bombardier planes in the United States and impose a 50-percent tariff on Canadian aircraft after accusing Canada of refusing certification for new models of US-made Gulfstream jets. That move apparently did not happen.

Last month, after trade negotiations collapsed, Trump imposed 50-percent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian products, including hockey sticks and cement.

Canada said it would impose retaliatory tariffs on a similar amount of US products beginning early Tuesday. The duties of 15 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent will apply to imports from the United States including steel and aluminum products and dairy goods such as cheese.