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 aircraft built in Canada. The union warns that such measures could disrupt the North American aerospace industry and jeopardize thousands of jobs in both countries.
According to IAM, the aerospace sectors in the United States and Canada are closely linked, functioning as a single ecosystem for manufacturing and maintenance. The union notes that decisions affecting certification or tariffs would impact not only Canadian workers but also many Americans, given the cross-border nature of supply chains.
Bombardier, a major aviation company based in Greater Montréal, employs about 3,000 people in the United States through its manufacturing and service centers. The company also relies on nearly 2,800 U.S.-based suppliers supporting thousands more American jobs. Many components for Canadian-built aircraft are produced in the United States, with these planes operating regularly within U.S. airspace and contributing to regional economies.
IAM states that using aircraft certification as a political tool is “unjustified and dangerous,” emphasizing that certification is intended to ensure safety rather than serve economic or political interests. The union argues that any politically motivated attempt to revoke certifications could lead to legal disputes and create instability across the industry.
David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, said: “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.”
The IAM highlights a longstanding history of cooperation between Canada and the United States in aerospace manufacturing, safety oversight, and innovation. Disrupting this partnership could negatively affect workers, airlines, suppliers, and passengers.
Brian Bryant, IAM Union International President stated: “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.”
IAM calls for decision-makers to keep politics separate from aviation safety processes to protect workers’ livelihoods as well as industry stability.
IAM is one of North America’s largest industrial trade unions with around 600,000 active and retired members across multiple sectors including aerospace throughout both countries.
