WASHINGTON — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday warned US President Donald Trump that Canada would not make military buys from Boeing while the United States was targeting Canada’s Bombardier with heavy import duties.
The US aerospace firm, claiming its competitor received unfair state subsidies, successfully petitioned the Trump administration to impose financial penalties on Bombardier to keep it from selling its CSeries planes in the massive US market.
In turn, Canada has voiced interest officially in some Australian military aircraft and called off discussions with Boeing on a possible purchase of 18 new Super Hornets. It intends to renew its fighter jets soon, seeking offers in 2019.
Trudeau, on a visit to Washington, said he discussed the issue directly with the US president.
“I highlighted to the president how we disagreed, vehemently, with Commerce’s decision to bring in countervailing and anti-dumping duties against Bombardier,” Trudeau told reporters.
Further, “attempts by Boeing to put tens of thousands of aerospace workers out of work across Canada is not something we look on positively. And I certainly mentioned that this was a block to us purchasing any — making any military procurements from Boeing.”
