Trump Threatens to Decertify Canadian Aircraft Amid Gulfstream Certification Dispute

US President Donald Trump has escalated tensions in North American aviation by threatening to decertify thousands of Canadian‑manufactured aircraft and impose steep tariffs unless Canada approves certification of Gulfstream business jets, a move that could reverberate across the industry.

Trump’s threat comes amid a certification dispute between the United States and Canada over a series of Gulfstream models that have been approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European counterparts but — according to Trump — remain unapproved by Canadian regulators. In a post on Truth Social, the president said Canada had “wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 jets,” and warned that Washington could respond by de‑certifying Canadian aircraft and charging a 50% import tariff on all Canadian‑built aircraft sold into the United States. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The FAA’s certification of aircraft is a technical process focused on safety and airworthiness; revoking or refusing to recognise approvals on economic grounds would mark an extraordinary shift in aviation regulatory practice. Trump’s declaration would have significant implications for aircraft makers in Canada, including Bombardier and others whose aircraft are widely used by US airlines and operators. The proposed tariffs — aimed at aircraft imported from Canada — underscore the broader trade and regulatory dispute between the neighbouring nations.

Canada is home to a significant aircraft manufacturing industry that produces business jets, regional aircraft, helicopters and other aerospace products. Many of these aircraft — including Bombardier’s Global family — are already certified and operated in the United States under existing bilateral aviation oversight arrangements. Data from industry registers show that thousands of Canadian‑made aircraft, including narrowbody and regional jets, are registered and active in US service. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Trump’s threat to decertify and tar‑ get Canadian aircraft comes alongside broader trade tensions between the two countries. Canadian officials have been critical of aspects of US trade policy, with Canadian leadership emphasising the importance of a rules‑based global order and efficient regulatory cooperation in aerospace and other strategic sectors. Ottawa and Ottawa‑based manufacturers, meanwhile, have pointed out that aircraft certification is inherently a technical safety process rather than an economic bargaining tool.

Industry observers have raised concerns about the legal and practical feasibility of decertifying aircraft based on economic disputes. Under established international aviation regulation, the authority to issue or revoke type certificates normally lies with the certifying authority (in this case, the FAA for US‑designed aircraft and Transport Canada for Canadian designs). The FAA has indicated that it can only revoke certifications on safety grounds, not economic or political considerations. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

If implemented, such a decertification or tariff strategy would place US airlines that operate Canadian‑manufactured aircraft — including multiple regional fleets and business aircraft — in a difficult position. Carriers such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines rely on Canada‑built aircraft for regional services, and a sudden withdrawal of certification or punitive tariffs could disrupt operations, increase costs and force fleet restructuring.

The certification dispute over Gulfstream jets — a product of US‑based General Dynamics subsidiary Gulfstream Aerospace — has added a complex diplomatic layer to what is typically a technical approval process. Gulfstream models such as the G500, G600, G700 and G800 have been certified by the FAA and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), but the lack of reciprocal recognition in Canada has become a flashpoint in the dispute.

For Canada’s aerospace sector, the standoff has highlighted the importance of regulatory alignment and mutual recognition frameworks in a highly interdependent global aviation ecosystem. Aircraft certification decisions have wide‑ranging implications for airline operations, safety oversight, maintenance structures and cross‑border trade. Any shift toward politicised certification could undermine confidence in established oversight systems and trigger reciprocal measures from other regulators.

As the situation develops, industry associations, airline groups and regulatory bodies are closely watching how both governments navigate the balance between trade leverage and preserving the technical integrity of aviation certification processes. The potential decertification threat — whether realised or not — underscores the strategic significance of aerospace manufacturing to both Canada and the United States and the need for cooperative regulatory engagement.