Trump threatens Bombardier, Canadian dollar as counter-tariffs set to roll out

President Donald Trump has threatened Bombardier, a Canadian aerospace company, as counter-tariffs are set to go into effect in Canada on Tuesday. The tariffs, which mirror the U.S. 50 per cent tariffs, aim to ensure that Canada matches the value of U.S. goods subject to the same tariffs. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that hundreds of goods will be impacted, with roughly equal value to the Canadian goods already under Trump's tariffs.

However, some consumer goods will see price increases, while industrial materials and wood products may also be affected.

This move comes two weeks after the U.S. imposed its initial tariffs, with Canada seeking to avoid them through a failed trade deal. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Trump's actions, urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to be transparent about the counter-tariffs and share the details of the rejected trade deal. He also called for an economic action plan, including the removal of the industrial carbon price, scrapping the ban on pipelines, and promoting oil shipping from the West Coast.

Bombardier was singled out by Trump on Monday, with the president stating that the company's products are not good enough and should not be sold in the U.S. Quebec Premier Christine Frechette defended Bombardier, highlighting the company's significance to the Quebec economy and its thousands of workers. NDP Leader Avi Lewis urged Canada to leverage its critical minerals, potash, and other products needed by the U.S. as a means of countering further retaliation from the U.S.