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 aircraft built in Canada. The union warns that such measures would disrupt the North American aerospace industry and put thousands of jobs at risk in both countries.
According to the IAM, any decision to interfere with certification processes or introduce tariffs would have major consequences for workers on both sides of the border due to the interconnected nature of the U.S. and Canadian aerospace sectors. The organization notes that manufacturing and maintenance in this sector operate as an integrated system across North America.
Bombardier, a major aviation company based in Greater Montréal, employs about 3,000 workers in the United States and relies on nearly 2,800 U.S.-based suppliers. Many components used in Canadian-built aircraft are manufactured in the United States, and these aircraft are regularly used by airlines and operators throughout U.S. airspace.
The IAM states that using aircraft certification as a political tool is “unjustified and dangerous.” They argue that certification exists solely for safety purposes and warn that revoking certifications for political reasons could lead to lengthy legal disputes, causing uncertainty for jobs, investment, and confidence within the aviation sector.
“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 highlights a long history of cooperation between Canada and the United States in aerospace manufacturing, safety oversight, and innovation. They caution that undermining this partnership would negatively affect workers, airlines, suppliers, and passengers.
“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 urges policymakers to keep politics out of aviation safety decisions to protect workers who depend on stable certification systems.
IAM represents around 600,000 active and retired members working across various industries including aerospace throughout North America.
