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 planes built in Canada. The union warned that such measures could significantly disrupt the North American aerospace industry and jeopardize thousands of jobs in both countries.
The IAM emphasized that any decision to interfere with certification processes or impose tariffs would have major consequences for workers in both Canada and the United States, citing the closely linked nature of their aerospace sectors. Manufacturing and maintenance operations in North America are described as functioning within an integrated ecosystem.
Bombardier, a prominent aviation company based in Greater Montréal, employs about 3,000 people at its U.S. manufacturing and service centers. The company also works with nearly 2,800 suppliers across the United States, supporting thousands more American jobs. Many components used in Canadian-built aircraft are produced by these U.S.-based suppliers. Business jets and other civilian aircraft manufactured in Canada regularly operate within U.S. airspace, providing services to airlines, operators, and regional economies throughout the country.
IAM officials argue that threats to decertify Canadian aircraft are not justified and pose risks to safety standards as well as economic stability. They caution that using certification as a political tool could lead to lengthy legal disputes and create uncertainty for workers, investors, and stakeholders throughout North America’s aviation system.
Politicizing aircraft certification is seen by IAM leaders as setting a harmful precedent internationally by undermining established safety standards.
“The aerospace industries in Canada and the United States are deeply interconnected,” said IAM Canadian General Vice President David Chartrand. “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.”
The IAM highlighted the longstanding partnership between Canada and the United States regarding aerospace manufacturing, oversight of safety practices, and innovation efforts.
“The IAM Union represents hundreds of thousands of members in the aerospace, defense, and other manufacturing sectors in both the U.S. and Canada,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “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.”
The union called upon policymakers to avoid politicizing aviation safety matters while protecting stable systems for certification relied upon by workers across multiple industries.
IAM represents around 600,000 active or retired members working across various sectors including aerospace manufacturing throughout North America.
