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By Anna Commander
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President Donald Trump has threatened Canada with a potential 50 percent tariff on Canadian aircraft sold in the United States, amid his ongoing rift with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The tariff threat added to tensions over certification of U.S.-made Gulfstream jets in Canada.
Why It Matters
Trump's new threat to America's northern neighbor comes on the heels of a previous warning of a 100 percent tariff on goods imported into the United States, if Canada proceeded with plans for a trade agreement with China.
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What To Know
Taking to Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said, "Based on the fact that Canada has wrongfully, illegally, and steadfastly refused to certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 Jets, one of the greatest, most technologically advanced airplanes ever made, we are hereby decertifying their Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada, until such time as Gulfstream, a Great American Company, is fully certified, as it should have been many years ago.
"Further, Canada is effectively prohibiting the sale of Gulfstream products in Canada through this very same certification process. If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50% Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
During Trump's first administration in 2017, U.S. trade actions against Bombardier over its commercial jet fleet were ultimately overturned by the U.S. International Trade Commission, and Bombardier has since focused on business and private jets, reports the Associated Press.
Trump and Carney have had a tumultuous recent history, as Trump uninvited Canada from his Gaza "Board of Peace." Carney previously told reporters that he had agreed for Canada to join in principle, but details still needed to be resolved.
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What People Are Saying
Rajan Menon, senior research scholar at Columbia University's Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies and global ethics fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs, to Newsweek via email on Thursday night: "It’s of course especially hard to predict President Trump’s behavior, but we do know two things for sure: First, he uses tariff hikes not just as an instrument of economic policy but also to exert political pressure on other countries. Second, he has raised tariffs on Canada before in his second term as president. Therefore, because of the tension between him and Prime Minister Carney, Trump could well raise tariffs on Canadian automobiles. Could the US-Canadian relationship deteriorate further? Yes—but not on account of Mr. Carney."
Carney, in a post to X last week: "Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership, in the economy, in security, and in rich cultural exchange. But Canada doesn't 'live because of the United States.' Canada thrives because we are Canadian."
Trump, on Truth Social Saturday: "If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a 'Drop Off Port' for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken. China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life. If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT justthenews.com/government/dip"
What Happens Next
Carney said it is "obvious" Canada is not in free trade talks with China, adding that the U.S. would know if that were the case, according to Politico**.**
Update 1/29/26, 10:05 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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