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 built in Canada. The union warned that such measures could disrupt the North American aerospace industry and jeopardize thousands of jobs in both countries.
IAM emphasized that decisions about tariffs or certification should be based on safety considerations, not political motives. The organization highlighted the close integration between the U.S. and Canadian aerospace sectors, noting that manufacturing and maintenance operations function as a single system across North America.
Bombardier, a major aviation company based in Montréal, employs about 3,000 workers at its U.S. facilities and depends on nearly 2,800 suppliers in the United States. Many parts used in Canadian-built aircraft are produced by American companies, and these aircraft operate regularly within U.S. airspace, supporting airlines and regional economies.
The IAM argued that any move to decertify Canadian aircraft would have broad consequences for workers on both sides of the border due to this interconnected supply chain. The union stated that using certification as a political tool could result in legal disputes, create uncertainty for investors, threaten jobs, and erode confidence in aviation systems throughout North America.
“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 union also pointed out that Canada and the United States have a longstanding partnership involving cooperation in aerospace manufacturing, safety oversight, and innovation.
“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.”
IAM called for policymakers to avoid politicizing aviation safety regulations so as to protect stable employment conditions for those working within rules-based certification frameworks.
IAM is one of North America’s largest industrial trade unions with approximately 600,000 active or retired members working across various sectors including aerospace.
