The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has issued a statement condemning reported threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to decertify Canadian-made aircraft and impose a 50% import tariff on aircraft built in Canada. The union warns that such measures would significantly disrupt the North American aerospace industry and endanger thousands of jobs in both countries.
The IAM emphasizes that certification processes for aircraft are designed to ensure safety, not serve political or economic interests. The union argues that interference with these processes could have far-reaching effects due to the highly integrated nature of aerospace manufacturing between the United States and Canada.
Bombardier, a major aviation company based in Montréal, Québec, employs about 3,000 workers at its U.S. facilities and works with nearly 2,800 suppliers across the United States. Many components used in Canadian-built aircraft are produced in the U.S., and these planes operate regularly within American airspace, supporting regional economies.
The IAM warns that any move to revoke certifications for political reasons could lead to extended legal disputes, uncertainty for businesses, job losses, reduced investment, and diminished confidence in the aviation sector throughout North America. They also caution that politicizing certification standards could undermine international safety protocols.
David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, stated: “The aerospace industries in Canada and the United States are deeply interconnected. Any attack on Canadian aircraft harms both Canadian and American workers alike. Aircraft certification must remain independent and grounded in safety, not politics. Politically motivated decertification would create instability, threaten thousands of jobs on both sides of the border, and undermine the integrity of the aviation system we all depend on.”
Highlighting longstanding cooperation between Canada and the United States in aerospace manufacturing and safety oversight, IAM stresses that undermining this partnership would negatively affect workers, airlines, suppliers, and passengers.
Brian Bryant, IAM Union International President said: “The IAM Union represents hundreds of thousands of members in the aerospace, defense, and other manufacturing sectors in both the U.S. and Canada. Many IAM members work at companies that rely heavily on integrated supply chains between the U.S. and Canada. Any attack on this partnership will result in job losses, increased prices, and a variety of other negative impacts. The Trump administration should focus on closing the loopholes that continue to fuel the offshoring of aerospace, manufacturing, and other critical jobs across North America.”
IAM calls for decision-makers to keep politics separate from aviation safety regulations to protect industry stability.
IAM is one of North America’s largest industrial trade unions with approximately 600,000 active and retired members across multiple sectors including aerospace.
