Trump "Locks" Canadian Aircraft? US Threatens 50% Tariffs
US President Donald Trump said the US would impose a 50% tariff on Canadian-made aircraft sold in the US, while also threatening to decertify Canadian aircraft in the US market.
The main trigger: Trump accused Canada of "holding up" the certification process for several Gulfstream jets (a US company). If Ottawa does not immediately agree, Trump said the US will decertify Canadian aircraft, including the Bombardier Global Express.
This threat marks a new chapter in US-Canada trade tensions. Previously, Trump had also threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if Canada reached a trade deal with China.
The situation escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made remarks in Davos that were seen as implicit criticism of Trump's policy direction. Carney insisted he was not "going back on his word," despite speaking directly with Trump this week.
This tug-of-war occurs ahead of the renegotiation of the USMCA regional trade agreement. In practice, many goods are still flowing relatively "lightly," although some sectors remain exceptions and vulnerable to new policy targets.
On the same day, Trump also threatened tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba, using a policy based on a national emergency declaration. This has the potential to drag other countries in the region, including Mexico, into the tariff spiral.
The bottom line: Trump is using tariffs and certification as negotiating leverage—not just on trade, but also on political positions and the direction of alliances. The market is now waiting to see whether this threat is actually executed, or whether it is being used as a "pressure tool" ahead of the next round of negotiations. (az)
Source: Newsmaker.id
