Bombardier CEO Expects Resolution Soon to Address Trump's Decertification Threat

By Paul Vieira

OTTAWA--Bombardier Chief Executive Eric Martel says he expects a resolution shortly to President Trump's threat to decertify the company's aircraft in the U.S. in response to Canada's failure to date to certify the latest models produced by U.S.-based Gulfstream.

"We saw that as maybe a threat against us, but I think that situation is going to soon get resolved, and we're going to be back to normal business," Martel told analysts during the company's conference call to discuss fourth-quarter earnings.

Martel's remarks indicate a quick resolution of a source of trade tension between Washington and Canada. Tension has escalated in the past month, including a threat from Trump this week to prevent the opening of a new bridge connecting Detroit with Canada.

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Bryan Bedford, said this week he expected Canada's transport department to quickly certify some Gulfstream business jets, after years of delay. "I think we've resolved the issues with Canada," Bedford told reporters in Washington, according to a report from Reuters.

Following Bedford's comments, a spokeswoman for Canadian Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said regulators are working with Gulfstream, a unit of General Dynamics, and the FAA on the approval of newer Gulfstream models.

Two weeks ago, Trump said in a Truth Social post that the U.S. would ground Bombardier Global jets as well as "all Aircraft made in Canada." He wrote that Canada needed to approve Gulfstream's G500, G600, G700 and G800 models. Without the approval, he said, the U.S. could apply a 50% tariff on imports of Canadian aircraft.

Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 12, 2026 13:49 ET (18:49 GMT)