The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has expressed strong opposition to reported threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to decertify Canadian-made aircraft and impose a 50% import tariff on planes manufactured in Canada. The union warned that such measures could significantly disrupt the North American aerospace sector and put thousands of jobs at risk in both countries.
The IAM emphasized that any move to levy tariffs or interfere with aircraft certification would have wide-reaching effects, given the closely linked nature of aerospace manufacturing and maintenance between the United States and Canada. The industry functions as a single system, with extensive cross-border collaboration.
Bombardier, headquartered in Greater Montréal, employs about 3,000 workers in the United States through its manufacturing and service centers. The company also relies on nearly 2,800 suppliers based in the U.S., supporting thousands more American jobs. Many components for Canadian-built aircraft are made in the United States, while these aircraft routinely operate within U.S. airspace and contribute to local economies.
The IAM described threats to decertify Canadian aircraft as unjustified, arguing that certification is meant to ensure safety rather than serve political or economic purposes. According to the union, using certification as leverage could lead to lengthy legal disputes and create uncertainty across North America’s aviation sector.
IAM Canadian General Vice President David Chartrand stated: “The aerospace industries in Canada and the United States are deeply interconnected. 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.”
Canada and the United States have a longstanding relationship in aerospace cooperation covering manufacturing, safety oversight, and innovation. Disrupting this partnership could negatively affect workers, airlines, suppliers, and passengers.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant added: “The IAM Union represents hundreds of thousands of members in the aerospace, defense, and other manufacturing sectors in both the U.S. and Canada. 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 IAM called for policymakers to separate politics from aviation safety decisions while protecting stable systems that support workers throughout North America.
With approximately 600,000 active and retired members across several industries including aerospace, defense, railroads, healthcare, automotive sectors among others throughout North America (United States & Canada), IAM is one of North America’s largest industrial trade unions.
