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US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose a 50 per cent tariff on aircraft sold by Canada into the United States, opening a new front in his trade dispute with America’s northern neighbour as tensions with Prime Minister Mark Carney continue to escalate.

The threat, posted on social media, follows Trump’s warning over the weekend that Canada could face a 100 per cent tariff on imports if it proceeded with a planned trade agreement with China. While Canada has already struck the deal, POTUS did not specify when the proposed import duties would take effect.

In his latest post, Trump said the move was retaliation for Canada’s refusal to certify jets manufactured by Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream Aerospace.

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Trump said the US would respond by decertifying Canadian aircraft, including jets built by Bombardier, Canada’s largest aircraft manufacturer. “If, for any reason, this situation is not immediately corrected, I am going to charge Canada a 50 per cent Tariff on any and all Aircraft sold into the United States of America,” Trump said.

He added that he is “hereby decertifying” Bombardier’s Global Express business jets. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, around 150 Global Express aircraft are registered in the US and operated by 115 operators, foreign media reported.

Bombardier and Gulfstream are direct competitors in the large-cabin, long-range business jet segment, with the Global series competing against Gulfstream’s latest models. Bombardier said in a statement that it has taken note of the president’s comments and is in contact with the Canadian government. The Montreal-based manufacturer said its aircraft are fully certified to Federal Aviation Administration standards and that it continues to expand its operations in the US.

“Thousands of private and civilian jets built in Canada fly in the US every day. We hope this is quickly resolved to avoid a significant impact to air traffic and the flying public,” the company said.

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Trump’s remarks come amid broader political friction between Washington and Ottawa. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Carney criticised what he described as economic coercion by major powers against smaller countries, without naming Trump directly. His comments drew widespread attention and were seen as overshadowing the US president at the gathering.

Canada hosts several major aerospace manufacturers besides Bombardier, including De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, which builds turboprop and maritime patrol aircraft, and Airbus. The European aerospace major manufactures its A220 single-aisle commercial jets and helicopters in Canada.

Trump accused Canada of unfairly blocking certification of US-built Gulfstream jets, warning that unless approvals are granted, Canadian-made aircraft would face tariffs and regulatory action. The Gulfstream G500 and G600 are already in service, while the newer G700 and G800 are the company’s flagship models.

Bombardier’s Global 6500, 7500 and 8000 jets, already certified in both Canada and the US, compete directly with Gulfstream’s long-range aircraft in the same market.

Aircraft certification determines whether planes can be sold, registered and operated, making regulatory delays or refusals a significant competitive setback for manufacturers. The US military also relies on Bombardier aircraft, operating modified Global Express jets known as BACN aircraft or the Air Force E-11A, one of which is currently deployed in the Middle East.