Canadian regulators have granted approval for Gulfstream’s latest business jets, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs due to concerns about the planes in Canada. Transport Canada officially certified Gulfstream’s G700 and G800 jets on Monday, following the approval of two older Gulfstream models just a week prior.
Trump had previously warned of decertifying and imposing tariffs on all Canadian-made planes unless the government authorized the four Gulfstream luxury aircraft, further escalating trade tensions between the two nations. Despite de-icing issues raised by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which conditionally certified the G700 and G800 in 2024, Transport Canada proceeded with the certification process.
The FAA has given Gulfstream, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, until the end of this year to demonstrate that the aircraft types are safe for operation in icy conditions. Experts doubted Trump’s ability to decertify planes, as such decisions typically fall within the FAA’s jurisdiction rather than the Oval Office.
Historically, aircraft groundings by regulators have primarily focused on safety concerns, as seen with the Boeing 737 Max 8’s global ban after two fatal crashes. Bombardier and Gulfstream, fierce competitors in the aviation industry, have been at the forefront of this trade dispute.
Bombardier, a major Canadian aircraft manufacturer, has significant operations in the United States and relies on American suppliers. The aerospace trade balance between the U.S. and Canada is favorable to the U.S., with Canadian-made aircraft, including Bombardier jets, contributing to this surplus. Aircraft production in Canada also includes models from Airbus and Bell Textron, among others.
