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U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to halt the sale of Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier in the United States unless the company begins manufacturing its planes within American borders. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared, "NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!" He stated that if Bombardier seeks access to the U.S. market, it must establish operations in the country and cease treating America like a "piggy bank."

This announcement comes amidst a growing trade dispute between the two neighboring nations, and just hours before Canada was set to impose retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. goods. The BBC has reached out to both Prime Minister Mark Carney's office and Bombardier for comment. It remains uncertain how Trump plans to prevent Bombardier from conducting business in the U.S.

The Montreal-based company already has a factory in Kansas, United States, where it builds special mission military aircraft and employs 3,500 American workers. Approximately half of its fleet, amounting to 5,100 aircraft, is operated by Bombardier customers located in the U.S. Bombardier's planes are manufactured in facilities across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, according to the company's website.

The company also complies with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), known as CUSMA in Canada and USMCA in the U.S.

Bombardier is one of Canada's largest employers, contributing C$7.4 billion ($5.4 billion; £4 billion) to the country's GDP in 2024, as reported by a Bombardier-commissioned study. It also serves as a significant contributor to the manufacturing sector in Quebec. Quebec Premier Christine Frechette expressed pride in Bombardier, calling it "a source of pride" for her province and "a flagship of our economy."

Frechette emphasized that she has reached out to Bombardier CEO Éric Martel, offering her government's full support in response to Trump's threat.

In response to Trump's threat, Frechette stated, "I will not respond to provocation with provocation. Quebec will not allow anyone to dictate where our companies must produce in order to access a market." The trade talks between Canada and the U.S. collapsed earlier this month after Canada withdrew from the negotiation table. In response, the U.S. imposed new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, accusing the Trump administration of presenting last-minute terms that were "unfair" and "uneconomic."

U.S. officials accused Trump of refusing to sign a deal due to political reasons and his unpopularity in Canada, an accusation Trump denied.