Bombardier looks to hire 500 new workers in US, despite Trump threat

What the report says

Bombardier, the Canada-based aircraft manufacturer, says it is hiring 500 workers in the United States even as President Donald Trump threatens to restrict the company’s sales. In a statement quoted by Al Jazeera, the company said the openings include new roles, replacements for retirees and routine turnover across its more than 3,500 U.S. employees. The hiring plan also includes jobs at a new service centre in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which Bombardier says is scheduled to open in mid-November.

According to Al Jazeera, Trump criticized Bombardier on social media earlier in the week, arguing that the company should build more in the United States if it wants access to the American market. A White House official told Reuters that the administration is preparing options related to Bombardier.

Bombardier has pushed back by saying it already has a substantial U.S. footprint, including work tied to wings in Texas and flight-control components in California, plus service centres in several states. The company also said it spends about $2.5bn a year on suppliers. Al Jazeera noted that Republican senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, who represent Kansas, have defended the company and warned that jobs in the state could be affected. The dispute comes amid broader U.S.-Canada trade tensions, including Canadian retaliatory tariffs that took effect this week.