U.S. Senators Push Back Against Trump’s Threat to Block Bombardier Aircraft Sales
Kansas senators urge the White House to reconsider threats against Canadian manufacturer Bombardier, citing significant U.S. job impacts and supply chains.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Two U.S. senators are pressuring President Donald Trump to walk back his recent threat to prohibit sales of Canadian-made Bombardier aircraft within the United States.
The President ignited the controversy on Monday via social media, declaring that the company must stop treating America like a piggybank and demanding that they manufacture their products domestically if they wish to access the U.S. market. He further dismissed the quality of the firm’s current offerings.
This escalation follows the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade talks on Aug. 21, which prompted the Trump administration to impose new tariffs. In response, Ottawa retaliated on Tuesday by targeting approximately $20 billion worth of American imports.
Bombardier, a historic manufacturer founded in the 1930s by Quebec inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier, pushed back against the President’s claims. The company highlighted that its aircraft already rely heavily on U.S. components, including wings produced in Texas and engines manufactured by Honeywell in Phoenix.
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The firm noted that its supply chain spans 2,800 American businesses across 47 states, including flight control systems built near Los Angeles and avionics from Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids. Bombardier stated that it supports tens of thousands of jobs and remains committed to its American partnerships and workforce.
The threat has caused alarm in Kansas, a Republican stronghold where the company maintains a significant presence. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall have both reached out to the White House to highlight the potential economic damage to the 1,200 local workers employed by the manufacturer in Wichita.
Senator Moran emphasized the importance of the company’s contributions to the state, while Senator Marshall confirmed he has taken his concerns directly to the Oval Office to protect those jobs. Both lawmakers are actively working to ensure the manufacturer remains a fixture in the Kansas economy.
Tensions were further strained after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to acquire six radar aircraft from Sweden’s Saab, which uses the Bombardier Global 6500 platform, rather than choosing American defense contractors. Canada is also currently reviewing its planned purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
