Canadian aerospace company Bombardier has highlighted its growing presence in America. This follows US President Donald Trump’s call for the company to build its aircraft in the country if it wants access to the American market. Trump made the remarks as Canada introduced retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of US goods, adding to tensions between the two countries.“Bombardier values its great partnership with American companies and its US employees. Our plan is to continue to invest in our people, our customers and the communities in which we operate across the country,” the company said in a statement.Bombardier said it already has a significant presence across the U.S., with direct employment in more than 20 states and facilities in 10 states. The company also pointed to its American supply chain and plans to expand its defence and service operations in the country.The company’s response came after, in a recent post shared on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’”
Where Bombardier operates in the US
Bombardier said its American workers are based across the country, with sites in Kansas, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Connecticut, Illinois, Delaware, California, Washington DC and New Jersey. The company has direct employment presence in more than 20 states.The company also said its aircraft support tens of thousands of U.S. jobs through its American operations and supply chain. Bombardier works with approximately 2,800 American companies across 47 states and spends more than $2.5 billion with suppliers each year.Its U.S. aerospace presence dates back to the business jet industry, including the legacy of Learjet in Wichita, Kansas, where the first business jets entered service.
Bombardier aircraft use American-made components
Bombardier also pointed to American-made components used in its aircraft, including engines, avionics and other key systems supplied by US companies.The company said American workers produce the wings for its fastest business jet at its facility in Red Oak, Texas. Bombardier also makes flight control components at its facility in the Los Angeles, California, area.Bombardier has announced plans to expand its defence activities and service network in the US. It also plans to inaugurate a new facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, later this year.
Why Donald Trump targeted Bombardier
Trump’s comments came hours after Canada implemented retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of U.S. imports. The duties were introduced in response to tariffs the Trump administration imposed on Canadian goods.Trump also called for Canada-origin products to be excluded from a US government programme that purchases commercial products. In a separate Truth Social post, he accused Ottawa of “ripping us off for years” and claimed that US companies are barred from equivalent Canadian programmes.“From now on, NO RECIPROCITY – NO ACCESS!” Trump wrote. His latest comments revived an earlier dispute over Bombardier’s access to the U.S. market.
Bombardier has faced US tariff threats before
The first Trump administration imposed a nearly 300% tariff on new Bombardier passenger jets following a complaint from Boeing. A US trade panel later rejected the tariff in 2018.Bombardier subsequently sold its commercial C-Series aircraft programme to Airbus, which now produces the aircraft in Alabama under the A220 name. The company also ended production of its Canadair Regional Jet, or CRJ, series in 2020 after selling the programme to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Trump had also threatened earlier this year to decertify Bombardier aircraft in the US and impose tariffs, after accusing Canada of blocking American aircraft manufacturer Gulfstream from doing business in the country.Canada’s Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon disputed that claim at the time.“Gulfstream aircraft is and can be freely sold and operated in Canada,” MacKinnon said in a statement to The Washington Post.Neither the threatened aircraft decertification nor the tariffs ultimately materialised, and Canada subsequently certified several Gulfstream models.
