By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump has announced the decertification of all Canadian-made aircraft, threatening a 50% tariff on them until American-made Gulfstreams are certified in Canada. This decision specifically targets the Bombardier Global Express and other Canadian-made planes, potentially affecting US airlines that use CRJ regional jets made by Bombardier. Experts caution that this action could disrupt the US air travel system significantly, causing widespread chaos if regional jets used on feeder flights are grounded. The legality of Trump’s actions and the potential impact on air travel remain uncertain, as the White House has not yet issued an executive order.
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Trump says he’s decertifying Canada-made aircraft and threatens 50% tariffs, and honestly, the reaction is pretty predictable. It’s like another day, another pronouncement from the former president. The news is met with a collective sigh, and a general feeling of “here we go again.” People are clearly tired of the constant threats and the often-shifting stances. The whole world seems to have moved on from his style of governance, and these moves now seem performative, a political weapon rather than a serious policy decision.
It’s hard to ignore the potential repercussions, though. Decertifying aircraft, especially those made in Canada, would have a massive impact. This isn’t just about the airlines; it affects cross-border traffic, the supply chain, and even crucial services like water bombers, which are vital for fighting wildfires. Crippling the airline industry could hurt U.S. regional carriers that rely on these aircraft. The potential financial hit to the aerospace industry would be substantial.
The immediate reaction is often laughter. It seems some people find his pronouncements almost comical at this point. There’s a sense that the threats are hollow, that they’ve lost their power. The world is over the tariff threats. The idea of a 50% tariff is met with questions about how it would even work in practice, particularly if the aircraft are no longer certified for import. There’s a lot of talk about how the former president seems to be just spitballing with no real understanding of the technicalities involved.
Of course, a lot of the criticism is personal. People are very critical of the former president’s motives and character. There’s a lot of strong language directed at the former president, reflecting a deep-seated frustration with his actions and rhetoric. There is a lot of disbelief that this is even a thing, that the power of the executive branch is being used in such a way.
The potential impact on the industry is a major concern. There’s a recognition that such a move would be a huge hit to the U.S. aerospace sector. It’s a reminder of the global nature of the industry, and the reliance on U.S. suppliers even for aircraft made outside the country. This move would impact U.S. suppliers to those Canada-made aircraft, as well.
The economics of the situation are also discussed. The threat of tariffs might actually backfire, leading to greater standardization of aircraft from companies like Airbus. Some point out that Boeing might see this as an advantage. This could be viewed as a way to punish Canada for not buying more of their aircraft.
The legal and political context is also brought up, with many wondering if the former president even has the authority to do this. The pending Supreme Court decision on the legality of tariffs is mentioned as a possible limiting factor. The idea is that the former president is acting like a king, making arbitrary decisions based on personal grievances.
Ultimately, the general impression is one of exhaustion and incredulity. The world has had enough of this style of politics. There’s a sense that this is just more of the same, with the same playbook.