Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that economic coercion from the U.S. and Europe nearly resulted in Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier being acquired by Chinese investors. Trudeau explained that after Bombardier was unable to sell its C Series commercial jets to airlines due to pressure from Airbus and Boeing, Chinese investors offered a 'dump truck full of money' to buy the business. He emphasized that both Boeing and Airbus were actively trying to push Bombardier out of the market, which almost forced Canada to turn to China to protect jobs in the sector [1].
Trudeau recounted that Chinese investors approached Bombardier in 2015 when merger talks with Airbus failed, and again in 2017 after unsuccessful negotiations with Boeing. The situation escalated to the point where Trudeau personally intervened at the 2017 G7 Summit in Sicily, warning leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, and Donald Trump that their actions were pushing Canada towards a deal with China. He highlighted that China was willing to pay any price to acquire Bombardier's commercial jet business [1].
The issue was ultimately resolved in 2018 when Airbus took a majority stake in Bombardier's C Series, rebranding it as the A220, and later acquired the remaining stake in 2020. This move secured more than 3,300 Airbus jobs in Quebec, according to statements from the companies at the time. Trudeau described the Bombardier episode as a clear example of economic coercion among allied nations, warning that such internal competition could inadvertently strengthen competitors with different values [1].
Trudeau also drew parallels to the impact of U.S. tariff threats under President Donald Trump, which led Canada to seek alternative partners for its automotive and aluminum industries. He noted that after the U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian aluminum, Canada signed new supply deals with Europe, reducing its reliance on the American market and mitigating the effects of economic coercion [1].
CONCLUSION
Trudeau's remarks highlight how economic pressure from allies can have unintended consequences, nearly resulting in a major Canadian aerospace asset being sold to China. The eventual Airbus acquisition preserved jobs in Quebec and demonstrated the importance of strategic intervention in global markets. The episode underscores the risks of economic coercion and the need for coordinated policy among like-minded nations.